Phillies general partner David Montgomery told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that he’s not thinking about trading away established players since opportunity still exists for his 29-33 club. “Come August or something, maybe we feel differently,” Montgomery acknowledged, noting that the team’s current goal is to re-enter the playoff picture.
Here are more rumors and notes from Rosenthal…
- Though the Cubs want to add talent, they are reluctant to start a long rebuilding process. Of all the Cubs, Ryan Dempster is most likely to be traded, according to Rosenthal. One general manager said the right-hander seems like a “classic Ned Colletti buy,” so don’t be surprised if the Dodgers show some interest in Dempster.
- Rosenthal speculates that the Indians could be a fit for Alfonso Soriano. Though the Cubs would be paying most of the outfielder’s salary in any trade, Soriano can still hit, especially against left-handers. Rival teams expect the Indians to be aggressive this summer, and they could use a right-handed bat like Soriano.
- Teams aren’t sure that Wandy Rodriguez would succeed in the American League.
- One person said there’s “no chance” the Red Sox could obtain prospects for Kevin Youkilis without paying most of his salary.
- The Reds want to add a left-handed hitter, Rosenthal reports.
- Though Eric Chavez can still play, preparing for games has become “a huge hurdle to climb physically.” The Yankees and White Sox were the only teams to show interest in the 34-year-old this past offseason, and he would have been content to retire if necessary.
- Don’t be surprised if the Giants look to acquire a reliever, Rosenthal writes.
- One executive wonders if the Orioles could trade Brian Matusz in a deal for a more established starter.
“no chance” the Red Sox could obtain prospects for Kevin Youkilis without paying most of his salary
in other words, trading youk at the deadline makes no sense.
It would be a move to make room for Will Middlebrroks and get him out of the clubhouse and away from Valentine! My guess is that he will be somewhere in the NL west before the deadline approaches.
I really don’t see the need for the Cubs to trade Soriano if it means paying most of his salary and getting little in return. Soriano is not a cancer to the team like Big Z was, and is actually a good person to have around for the younger players. The Cubs do not have team salary issues any more, so his salary (which they would pay anyways) should not be an issue. I could see this maybe if the Cubs had 2 or 3 OF prospects knocking on the door, but they are probably still 2 or 3 years away.
Well B.Jack is close to the bigs should be yup next year, Sczcer is probably a couple years away. Solar is at least 2-3 years away. Personally if the Cubs feel strong about Rizzo, and want to keep LaHair(imo they should cash in on him after the all star game) then trading soriano would open a spot to keep LaHair. and your right hes not a club house threat like big z.
im more interested on who would take a flyer on him, i never thought of the Indians as a option.
CF is plenty open for BJax when he is ready, this shouldn’t affect Soriano. I’d expect to see BJax in September and maybe next year full time. Not sure if he is ready … Sczcer is another story. He is in Single A and really doing nothing. I would expect Almora, Soler, and others to pass him by. If he made it to the bigs, I don’t really see him as a starter. I could be wrong. I actually wouldn’t mind Soriano still being on the team when Soler arrives, I think he might be a big help to the kid. I really like LaHair but am totally frustrated that they sit him against lefties. That really has to hurt his trade value, and makes me question the coaches. Sit Stewart if you need to get Baker in the lineup!
IMHO if the indians made a deal for Soriano it most likely would include a near ready to ready AAA /AA Outfielder.
So if the Cubs picked up the lions share of Soriano contract I would think you would be talking 3 players like Starter David Huff / outfielder Trevor Crowe or Carrera & 1 lower level fringe prospect.
I do not believe that Soriano even with the Cubs picking up the larger part of the contract would bring much at all as far as top notch quality prospect.
The guys that they receive would be outside of any teams top 20 prospects.
I think the idea would be to get something for him and unload some of his salary while such a thing is still possible, and, along the way, to clear the decks to start developing and trying out more young OF for the future.
Better to deal him as a still-useful right-handed bat and unload maybe $10MM of his salary than wait another year, have him fall apart, then eat the whole thing.
No, they’re not going to get much for him, but if they could get some salary relief and another Michael Bowden-type (i.e., another fading prospect they feel better about than the team letting him go) that wouldn’t be bad.
Reds and Indians should deal, one wants LF hitters, one wants righties, and both have players to deal.
The reds will not be a player for Soriano they have been rumored to be in play on Youk for 3rd and then moving Frazier to the corner outfield.
The Indians would be a player at the right price
That makes no sense.
1) The Reds ALREADY have a broken down Third Baseman in Scot Rolen that they have to pay. Who would they trade and how would they pay for Youkilis? The money they have been squirreling away from Revenue Sharing all these years is going towards Votto and Phillips contract extensions. What would that mean for Rolen? That he isn’t coming back at all? A platoon player? A spot starter? A late Inning defensive replacement?
2) The Reds ALREADY have a Left Fielder in Ryan Ludwick. Tossing him (and Chris Heisey) to the curb would mean two things; a) the Reds were wrong to sign Ludwick to begin with and b) Toothpick Baker would have one less precious veteran player to play.
I don’t see GM Walt Jocketty admitting he made a mistake by signing a scrub former Cardinal off the scrap heap (Ludwick) and I don’t see Baker playing Frazier over Ludwick in Left Field (even though it might be better for the team, just like Frazier playing Thrid Base has been better for the team than having the carcass of Rolen there).
O’s trading Matusz? If they believe he’s maxed out his ability already, or is a roller coaster pitcher, sure. Otherwise, why?
“One person said there’s “no chance” the Red Sox could obtain prospects for Kevin Youkilis without paying most of his salary.”
that was me, I said that.
Obviously the possibility exists. They need to hold on until July 2nd, barring a set back from Utley.
The only real question is can they hold on?
Likely no.
The injury timeline for the Utley and Howard changes everyday and is delayed even further and further into the season. Why wait till the end of August when the return won’t be as great as in July?
They need to breakdown the roster because Nationals, Marlins, Braves are all getting younger where the Phillies are all getting older.
There are also a few key guys on the nats/marlins/braves who are playing way over their heads, so some regression could happen on those fronts.
and 3rd place in the east could very plausibly be a wildcard spot.
“One person said there’s “no chance” the Red Sox could obtain prospects for Kevin Youkilis without paying most of his salary.”
Well, if one person said it, it MUST be true.
If the Reds go after a Left Handed hitter, he is going to have to be old (gotta have that veteran presence), likely be a former Cardinal and either be a utility player or a guy with some power.
The guy who fits most of that bill is Adam Kennedy.
If not him then the two next guesses would be Mark Kotsay or Coco Crisp.
Put Youk on the bench and use him as a pinch hitter–which we don’t have currently. So what if he doesn’t like it; Thome, I’m sure, would prefer to be playing regularly but understands. As far as I’m concerned Youk is a reserve until Sept. Pay him off and let him go. His crying about every call is not sitting well with “The Nation.”
If Middlebrooks can’t continue to show improvement–send him to the minors for more seasoning. Move Aviles to third and bring up Iggy or Ciriaco to play SS and get a look at those kids.
Why trade Lahair when you are going to get nothing in return?
Yep, Soto’s definitely worse than Steve “My Average Fell 200 Points in Two Weeks” Clevenger and Koyie “I Have Dirty Pictures of the Ricketts Family” Hill.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Clev – I think he could be a passable starter. But saying he’s better than Soto? Not yet. Each of them is just as likely to boom or bust as the other.