Some GMs believe the White Sox have set an extraordinarily high asking price for right-hander Gavin Floyd, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported last night. Olney passes on more rumors in today’s Insider-only column; here they are:
- Stephen Drew will likely miss Opening Day as he recovers from last summer’s ankle injury, and the Diamondbacks have started evaluating other long-term solutions at short. They’ve scouted Ian Desmond of the Nationals and could have interest in Cliff Pennington of the Athletics. Drew’s contract includes a $10MM mutual option for 2013, so replacing him isn’t a top priority just yet.
- Scouts say Mariners second baseman Dustin Ackley looks “exceptional” this spring.
- The Cardinals could pursue free agent right-hander Roy Oswalt aggressively if Chris Carpenter isn’t ready for Opening Day.
I just dont see Oswalt joining the Cards in mid-season :/
maybe there is some truth to the “parra to the nats” rumor if the dbacks are looking at desmond. that’s unfortunate…we don’t need to keep drew, but we certainly don’t need to pay that much to get a player like desmond, either!
Desmond and a prospect or two for Parra potentially?
No offense, but am curious why the majority of Nat’s fans here and a lot of sports writers are wanting the team to get rid of Desmond.. It’s not like the rest of the league isn’t aware of his short comings also and there is not a lot of other SS on the market for Rizzo to find a replacement at now. wouldn’t they be better off just holding their nose and sticking with him for another year?
most of them are suggesting that espinosa be moved to SS and Lombordozzi start at 2nd. I am not sure I am fan of either move; acquiring Parra and getting rid of Ian.
If it would help fill up a long term need in CF then it would be worth giving him up.. Most Nationals fans think Rendon will be able to play 2B allowing for Espinosa to move over to his natural position at SS.. Lombardozzi could fill in if Desmond got traded
isn’t Parra’s position LF? I don’t think that’s only because Young plays CF. D-Backs’ fans can shed more light on this. Besides will he bat leadoff because I know Harper and Werth won’t. I just don’t see Parra as a fit for Nationals’ everyday OF job in future. Therefore trading Desmond for him does not make sense to me.
True, but then starting in 2013 Morse at first, Parra/Werth/Harper in the OF
instead of Parra, we could have Bourn or Upton. That’s my main point. Is Parra a CF / leadoff guy? I don’t think so from his stats.
“instead of Parra, we could have Bourn or Upton”
We have been over this before.. By the time of the 7/31 deadline.. I am betting they already have Upton. friedman is not going to want to pay him the 7m and knows the nats need a CF, Rizzo knows he needs one and also think the Nats will stay within broad side range of a WC spot for a little while and see if they can’t get him and Upton will be the best one available.
Tampa has Jennings, a better, younger and far cheaper player than Upton, they will be looking to move him for the highest package they can and IMO? Rizzo will eventually cave and try to get him inked to a 3-4 year deal afterwards.
I hope Rizzo does not do that. I love Andrew and Rays but not so much that I am willing to hand over rest of the farm for Upton. I don’t mind waiting to sign Upton in free agency.
I really don’t think he will rob the cradle as the saying goes prospect wise, but the cost would be high.
Also think Rizzo should go in another direction, as have never been a big fan of upton, he has regressed every season with the bat since ’07 and after he hurt his shoulder.
Sure, he is a fine defensive CF, with a rocket for an arm and excellent speed, but i hope rizzo also takes a look at his negatives, the high K rate and regression since ’07 before committing.
BUT… like have been posting for months, rizzo just seems like he wants this guy and who knows? maybe he needs out of the AL and that awful offensive stadium to reignite his career?
I hope Rizzo does not do that. I love Andrew and Rays but not so much that I am willing to hand over rest of the farm for Upton. I don’t mind waiting to sign Upton in free agency.
Its only because the Nats have espinosa (who is actually a shortstop) and lombardozzi, then hopefully rendon next year!
Ian Desmond?
EWW
Why so much Ian Desmond hate? Can’t really get too picky when it comes to SS
The A’s have no reason to trade away pennington unless the offer was a over pay for him. The A’s have no other SS in their system to play SS at the major league level.
Newsflash: Pennington is nothing special
he’s actually a really good fielder, with an amazing arm. he’s just weak with the stick. There’s that, plus the a’s don’t really have a replacement for him right now so trading him wouldn’t be the smartest move, it would be very unsmart (avoiding moderation) actually. he’s also under control for 3 or 4 more years so yeah, teams will have to overpay for him
he’s actually a really good fielder, with an amazing arm. he’s just weak with the stick. There’s that, plus the a’s don’t really have a replacement for him right now so trading him wouldn’t be the smartest move, it would be very unsmart (avoiding moderation) actually. he’s also under control for 3 or 4 more years so yeah, teams will have to overpay for him
He’s good with the glove, and is average with a bat.
In a day and age when the Brandon Crawfords of the world are being given starting jobs due to lack of quality SS across baseball, what Pennington has to offer is pretty valuable.
That being said, I doubt a cheap, cost controlled player like him is going anywhere.
rfffr next time read what is said. Nothing about pennington being a great SS but that the A’s are not going to trade him because they don’t have a back up SS.
The A’s Are gonna lose regardless.
Its not like we are gonna see another Jeter or Nomar anytime soon !
Machado could live up to that
Time will tell…………..
Ackley will be great at the top of the M’s lineup for years. Excellent hitter with tons of speed. He’s already the M’s best offensive player and he hasn’t even had a full season in the bigs.
Yeah, all but 1 of his hits have gone for extra bases this spring.
Seem to be forgetting about Ichiro Eh?
No. Ackley is better than Ichiro right now.
No hes not in Ichiro’s worst year he got like 180 hits or so.
I said right now. If I’m a GM starting a team right now I’m taking Ackley over Ichiro 10 times out of 10 and not thinking twice about it.
Last season was Ichiro’s worst season and he’s not getting any younger. Ackley had less than half the AB’s Ichiro had. If you project Ackley’s stats over the number of AB’s Ichiro had Ackley would have as many (if not more) hits, runs, walks, batting average, OBP, and slugging.
is there any point in comparing a younger hitter with an older hitter? Ackley is a better hitter right now than Ruth and Cobb combined right now. You know why.
No one is comparing Ackley to Ichiro’s total career, or Ruth or Cobb. This is about who is better right now.
that’s what I am saying. How can you fairly make a comparison between Ichiro 37-age season and Ackley 23-24 age season and expect us to accept that Ackley is a better hitter?
Okay well Ackley will never be as good as Ichiro was when he was in his prime. Also Ichiro is still more valuable then around 80% of the guys in the league right now.
I say 90%.
Why 90%?
Fair or not, my point is that Ackley is the best offensive player on the Mariners right now. Clearly at least one person disagrees with me and thinks Ichiro is a better offensive player than Ackley right now. What is so offensive about defending my point that Ackley is a better offensive player than Ichiro right now?
Ichiro will have a better season than Ackley across the board.
– signed by
FS
Now let’s talk after this season.
Deal. Honestly I hope you are right because I think Ackley will have a great season. If Ichiro has an even better season that should be good news for the Mariners.
That’s the dumbest statement because Ichiro is still in the league batting, while Ruth and Cobb aren’t even alive.
Both Ackley & Montero are better than Ichiro is right now. I love Ichi, but let’s be realistic.
I’m a huge fan of Ackley but really hope that players hitting in front and back of him pick up more slack this season. If Figgins is hitting in front of him I sure hope he improves upon last seasons numbers or they’ll pitch around Ackley.
HAH Oswalt would never go to the cards in a million years. He is going to join the Red Sox I am sure of it.
Ackley is THAT dude.
I gotta agree with baseballbill77. Ackley is the best hitter on the Mariners, and if Spring Training stats mean anything [they don’t, but I can wish, right?], he’s primed for a monster year. The guy has elite discipline and a sweet, smooth swing primed for gap power. Let’s hope he stays red hot!
In later comments, scouts singled out Ackley’s hair and smile as his best features, and warned others not to “look [him] directly in the eyes, for you will find both incredible passion and understanding.”