Links for Thursday night..
- The Yankees will pursue Carl Crawford if they do not land Cliff Lee, writes Newsday's Ken Davidoff.
- There's mutual interest between the Giants and Aubrey Huff, but talks between the two parties have not advanced lately, writes Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com.
- The Dodgers have signed a pair of Japanese amateur pitchers, Kazuya Takano and Kazuki Nishijima, according to Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times.
- Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin is "untouchable" in trade talks, a team source told Troy Renck of The Denver Post.
- Brian McTaggart of MLB.com writes that the Astros got better in the long run by dealing for Clint Barmes this afternoon.
- Matt Thornton of the White Sox told MLB.com's Scott Merkin that he isn't concerned about hammering out a long-term deal with the club.
- The Phillies have decisions to make on several players in advance of tomorrow's midnight deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 draft, writes MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
- The Braves have named Jonathan Schuerholz, son of team president John Schuerholz, the manager of their Gulf Coast league affiliate, writes David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
I really hope the Phils protect de Fratus and Rizzotti. de Fratus is looking like a nice bullpen arm/setup type, and Rizzotti is proving his last season wasn’t a fluke. He’s never going to play anywhere but 1B, but if he can be even passable there he’s got a good chance his bat makes the bigs (though obviously not in Philly). Good B-grade trade chip.
I think they’ll protect both of them. I thought the interesting name that Todd threw out there was D’Arby Myers. He’s never done anything spectacular, and I can’t see a team taking a chance on him in the Rule 5. I’m thinking De Fratus has a chance to break camp with the team though.
agree. Save all you can in this order.
1.De Fratus
2.Rizzotti
3.Herndon
4. Mathieson
5.Bastardo
Rizzotti’s doing well in AFL action too.
I disagree with McTaggart…Clint Barmes has a career .300 OBP and the last time the Rockies acquried a starting pitcher like they did today with Paulino was Jason Hammel, which turned out well, and Jorge De La Rosa, which turned out well…If anything, I think the Astros got extremely robbed…If you subtract Paulino’s last 2 starts which were mainly because of injury and his sept/oct appearances which he was recovering from injury, he didn’t have a bad season…I really, really like this move for the Rockies.
I agree completely. The Rockies were all but certain to non-tender Barmes, and they wind up getting a live arm to try to harness in a trade for him instead.
I agree completely. The Rockies were all but certain to non-tender Barmes, and they wind up getting a live arm to try to harness in a trade for him instead.
I’d actually have to disagree with this. Felipe is the better talent, but he was out of options. With the Astros experimenting with Wesley Wright as a starter and Paulino’s constant struggles the Astros were lucky to not lose him on a waiver claim. Barmes isn’t the solution, but he is a better stop gap than Tommy Manzella.
Paulino is nothing special outside of his fastball. I wish the Astros would have found someone else to trade for Barmes, but I wouldn’t get too worked up about him. I’ve never thought he had the secondary stuff or health to hack it as a starter. If Barmes hits 8th, provides a little pop and plays a good shortstop, then I think this trade is well worth it for the Astros. Paulino might turn out to be a good bullpen arm, but honestly I don’t think he can stay healthy enough to even do that. He reminds me of Joel Zumaya in a lot of ways
And I don’t think Hammel and De La Rosa have been great successes for the Rockies. Both have been serviceable back of the rotation starters (in De La Rosa’s case, a back of the rotation starter w/ a live arm), but if that’s Paulino’s ceiling, then I think this a wash. A serviceable pitcher for a serviceable player at a premium position
From June 4th of 09 to present, De La Rosa has been one of the best pitchers in Baseball.
I’m not disagreeing with you, but will you post numbers proving that? On topic, I could care less. As long as the Ranger’s didn’t trade Neftali for Cezar Izturis, I’m fine.
He seems streaky to me. He had a nice second half of the season last year, but he missed two months earlier this summer, and it seemed like he was good every other month when he was healthy this year (just from glancing at his stats). Granted, I’ve barely watched him, but I don’t think I’d trust him to be more than a 3rd starter for my team.
Point being though, I don’t think Paulino is as special as his fastball velocity might indicate
Fair enough, and I never said Jorge De La Rosa deserves the money he’ll get this off-season, I’m just saying he was one of the best from June 4th of 09 on.
Winningest, yes. Best? Not so much.
He made 42 starts from 6/4/09 through the end of 2010 and totalled 252 IP (6 IP per start). His cumulative ERA was 4.07. Even when he won 16 games over the last half of the ’09 season his ERA was 3.94.
He’s a #3 (or #4) starter on most teams (even the Rockies), but he’s about to get paid like a #1 or #2.
From June 4th of 09 to present, De La Rosa has been one of the best pitchers in Baseball.
Phillies should trade Chase Utley to the Twins for Nick Blackburn and JJ Hardy
Twins should trade Mauer to Philly for Blanton and Ruiz
Phillies would get robbed, Amaro would never do that. He’d want bodies to “replenish the farm”.
Fine, Maur + Denard + 10 mil for Ibanez + Ruiz? Seems fair.
Throw in Cole Hamel’s wife and you got a deal.
Throw in Cole Hamel’s wife and you got a deal.
No…Denard Spandy man Can is staying put. Please don’t trade him Bill Smith.
Then instead of Span, Cuddyer and an extra 10 mil ( for his contract ) to platoon with Brown.
No…Denard Spandy man Can is staying put. Please don’t trade him Bill Smith.
Fine, Maur + Denard + 10 mil for Ibanez + Ruiz? Seems fair.
Bill Smith: Hey Ruben! How are you doing bud?
Ruben: Good thanks Bill
Bill Smith: So can we have Chase Utley for Nick Blackburn and J.J. Hardy?
Ruben: Please don’t call me ever again.
Conversation continued
Bill Smith:What do you mean?
Ruben:Don’t tell me your serious, your gonna ask for Chase Utley without throwing in Jason Tyner?
Bill Smith: Your right i’m sorry I thought we could do a 2 for 1 but i’ll throw him in if we got a deal.
Ruben: Start the paperwork, Phillies fans are in for a treat!
Conversation continued
Bill Smith:What do you mean?
Ruben:Don’t tell me your serious, your gonna ask for Chase Utley without throwing in Jason Tyner?
Bill Smith: Your right i’m sorry I thought we could do a 2 for 1 but i’ll throw him in if we got a deal.
Ruben: Start the paperwork, Phillies fans are in for a treat!
Moving back to VA. Hope to help the base there regrow after moving the AAA club to ATL.
Sucks to not have a club in the Carolinas though.
Philly should trade Howard to the Royals for Grenkie,Butler,Soria… lmao thats a good joke haha
Phillies would have to throw in Ben Francisco and Kyle Kendrick to be fair.
Fair for who? Howard is an amazing player and his defense has gotten better, but Butler, Soria, & Grenkie’s contracts are just too good right now.
Calm down, it was clearly a joke.
can’t be too sure now a-days, but seeing as it was the same one joking with me earlier, I should have gotten that… my fault.
I thought jokes are supposed to be funny
Fair for who? Howard is an amazing player and his defense has gotten better, but Butler, Soria, & Grenkie’s contracts are just too good right now.
Phillies would have to throw in Ben Francisco and Kyle Kendrick to be fair.
change butler for a 2ndbase prospect who is very close to the majors and not a totlly bad trade they way they can slot utley over to 1st
change butler for a 2ndbase prospect who is very close to the majors and not a totlly bad trade they way they can slot utley over to 1st
I sincerely hope Barmes isn’t the “answer” at SS for the Astros. Ideally, he’d be the newest version of Geoff Blum, who routinely came up with clutch hits for the Stros. I like Barmes in Houston, but again, not as the everyday starting SS.
Paulino was given MANY opportunities to be a successful pitcher in Houston, but injuries and overall ineffectiveness made him expendable…despite the big arm. Yeah, it’s great to throw 95 but he throws a flat fastball and nothing else with any great success. Great talent, maybe Colorado will be good for him.
Any deal that Ed Wade makes is going to be met with a lot of criticism, so the “dumb GM” cracks are to be expected. We’ll have to see what else this deal leads to, but on it’s face I like it.
At the present time, there is no real answer at SS for the Astros, and I strongly doubt they’re considering Barmes for anything more than a stopgap. They’re not going to invest heavily in a free agent SS when they’re not going to be competitive for a few years, and they don’t really have anything on the farm. So, for me, Barmes is as good as anyone. He’ll probably move around the infield, mostly at shortstop. I’d rather have someone to platoon with Keppinger at second, but I don’t think Barmes is the answer there.
At the present time, there is no real answer at SS for the Astros, and I strongly doubt they’re considering Barmes for anything more than a stopgap. They’re not going to invest heavily in a free agent SS when they’re not going to be competitive for a few years, and they don’t really have anything on the farm. So, for me, Barmes is as good as anyone. He’ll probably move around the infield, mostly at shortstop. I’d rather have someone to platoon with Keppinger at second, but I don’t think Barmes is the answer there.
Paulino is out of options, and very could have been lost for nothing. Paulino throws hard and that’s it. Barmes isn’t gonna set the world on fire, but is experienced, and Manzella hasn’t exactly established himself at SS, and Keppinger isn’t secure at 2b either.
Yeah, as an Astros fan, I’ve watched Paulino throughout his career and I can say that at times he’s outstanding. However, he’s lacked the consistency to put together a string of solid starts. He has always shown just enough to avoid being sent down/ released. I’m guessing he’ll continue the same way in COL, but with some even more spectacular flameouts (given the thin air and all).
Yeah, as an Astros fan, I’ve watched Paulino throughout his career and I can say that at times he’s outstanding. However, he’s lacked the consistency to put together a string of solid starts. He has always shown just enough to avoid being sent down/ released. I’m guessing he’ll continue the same way in COL, but with some even more spectacular flameouts (given the thin air and all).
Paulino is out of options, and very could have been lost for nothing. Paulino throws hard and that’s it. Barmes isn’t gonna set the world on fire, but is experienced, and Manzella hasn’t exactly established himself at SS, and Keppinger isn’t secure at 2b either.
I sincerely hope Barmes isn’t the “answer” at SS for the Astros. Ideally, he’d be the newest version of Geoff Blum, who routinely came up with clutch hits for the Stros. I like Barmes in Houston, but again, not as the everyday starting SS.
Paulino was given MANY opportunities to be a successful pitcher in Houston, but injuries and overall ineffectiveness made him expendable…despite the big arm. Yeah, it’s great to throw 95 but he throws a flat fastball and nothing else with any great success. Great talent, maybe Colorado will be good for him.
Any deal that Ed Wade makes is going to be met with a lot of criticism, so the “dumb GM” cracks are to be expected. We’ll have to see what else this deal leads to, but on it’s face I like it.
Rizzotti would look good in a Buccos uniform!
We’ll give u Vic and Rizzoti for McCutchen, haha.
Nice try! I am just hoping the Phillies leave Rizzotti off the 40 man roster so we can get him in the rule 5 draft!
Good chance of that. It’s unfortunate because he could be am attractive piece to land them somebody…his d is rough tho.
They still have a day or 2? not quite sure. It would be a nice player to get out of the draft, I doubt they would pick him up though, another team for sure would.
They still have a day or 2? not quite sure. It would be a nice player to get out of the draft, I doubt they would pick him up though, another team for sure would.
Good chance of that. It’s unfortunate because he could be am attractive piece to land them somebody…his d is rough tho.
Nice try! I am just hoping the Phillies leave Rizzotti off the 40 man roster so we can get him in the rule 5 draft!
We’ll give u Vic and Rizzoti for McCutchen, haha.
Rizzotti would look good in a Buccos uniform!
McTaggart should be fired.
Chacin better be “off limits”. He was their 2nd-best starter (even WITH De la Rosa on the team) in 2010. Too bad Tracy got hung up on “veterans” and sent the kid back to the bullpen when Cook and Francis got healthy.
Chacin better be “off limits”. He was their 2nd-best starter (even WITH De la Rosa on the team) in 2010. Too bad Tracy got hung up on “veterans” and sent the kid back to the bullpen when Cook and Francis got healthy.
“Daddy, can you land me a job in baseball?” asked Schuerholtz the younger.
Schuerholtz the elder replied, “Sure thing son, you can manage a minor league team. Heck, Trey Wilson did a good job at it in Bull Durham.”
Ah, baseball and its never-ending cycle of nepotism.
yeah, those minor league managing gigs are pretty posh. Riding around on a bus and slugging equipment around in the heat and humidity. Getting paid enough so you only have to work one job in the offseason. Living at the Best Wester for 6 straight months.
I’d say if Shuerholtz Jr. is willing to take that gig and make it work…power to him.
yankees will not need crawford…they will get lee
Matt Thornton, as a White Sox fan, thank you for being a reliable bullpen arm the last few years and salvaging our investment in Joe Borchard. That being said, no way in hell do I want to see a 33 (soon to be 34) year old situational middle reliever get any sort of sizable extension. Either take 2 years, or I’ll gladly flip you for prospects.
“Loyalty? This is business folks.”
How can you call Thornton a “situational middle reliever”. He is a shut down setup man. He is far better than a LOOGY. He is dominating against lefties and righties.
i cant believe im saying this but i hope the yankees get lee, crawford will be expensive as it is. if the yankees get involved, the price is gonna sky rocket
THANK YOU! I’ve been saying that Crawford Is a good backup plan, than u move Gardner to center and ship granderson + prospects OUT OF NEW YORK for a VERY GOOD PITCHER!!
“The Yankees will pursue Carl Crawford if they do not land Cliff Lee, writes Newsday’s Ken Davidoff.”
Can he throw a slider?
Anyone else think that its smart for the Giants to not go after Crawford?
I feel like if they sink that money into a big time FA there is no way they can retain Linc, Cain, Bumgarner, Posey, Wilson (and possibly Belt) long term…
im tired of the yankees just trying to buy themselves a world championship. they should just do it like the rest of teams and produce talent from there farm system. most people outside of new york just like them because the yankee are good and buy there championship for the most part. there in the conversation for every big free agent every year and they allows seem to get them. i wouldnt doubt it if they got crawford and lee.
Don’t make me backhand u with stats to prove you wrong stupid.