Arizona GM Kevin Towers told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that he expects a “lightning round” of trades during the 48-hour period leading up to the July 31st trade deadline. “That's when things really are going to pick up," Towers predicts. Until then, here are Nightengale’s latest rumors:
- The Dodgers are the leaders for Ryan Dempster, a Cubs official told Nightengale (latest Dempster rumors here).
- Meanwhile, the Rangers and Tigers would love to trade for Matt Garza.
- Justin Upton will be traded, Nightengale writes. It’s a question of whether the Diamondbacks complete the trade now or after the season.
- The Diamondbacks plan to trade shortstop Stephen Drew by the end of the month. They talked to the Mariners about a potential deal, but infielders Dustin Ackley and Kyle Seager and pitching prospects Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen and James Paxton are off-limits in trade talks.
- Nightengale suggests the Marlins and Mariners could consider trades for Hanley Ramirez and Ichiro Suzuki, respectively.
Who would trade for Ichiro? Why?
Bench role i guess for a contender maybe he could make it to a world series for a competitive team and like all former studs his reputation would defiantly make a team feel he is a worthy player for their team
If he could be acquired on the cheap, I think the Pirates would take him and plug him into RF and Leadoff. Would be an upgrade over what they have now.
But would ichiro would want to go to the pirates, he does have 10 5 rights
Yeah, good point. He may not. Of course, it will only be a 2 month rental, then he can go back and sign with Seattle again at the end of the season when he becomes a free agent if he so chooses. Just a thought. I am a bucco fan and we need outfield help and a leadoff hitter desparately. Does Ichiro still steal bases?
“Does Ichiro still steal bases?”
Try ESPN.com’s stats pages.
2 Month Rental, and then you get a Draft Pick when eh signs elsewhere in Free Agency.
Not anymore. Player has to have been with the team for the whole previous year in order to get a draft pick and then you have to make them a qualifying offer.
Honestly I’m not sure he would be an upgrade at this point. Maybe his LH bat will play well in PNC but I’m not sure, he looks done. And he can’t get on base.
He wouldn’t cost a top prospect, or at least not one of your top prospects. I could see the masking for Marte or Grossman.
Maybe someone can help me out here. Why would Stephen Drew be worth any of those prospects? I think if the Dbacks GM suggested any of those names he’d be hung up on immediately.
I’m with you Julian. I’m a Dbacks fan and I thought the possible trade of Roberts and Drew for Johnny Peralta and a somewhat decent prospect was surprisingly good from the Dbacks perspective.
Julian – you are not alone. Most baseball fans suffer from a delibitating condition making it impossible for them to read stats that happenned before the current season in this case before 2012. GMs suffer from this ailment as well, though not all of them. I know it’s hard but scroll up on espn stats to 2011 and 2010 and you will see that Steve can put up numbers when healthy.
So a SS who hit .270 two years ago with 15 hr and 100+ SO and does not stay healthy is worth one of the Mariners top pitching prospects or Ackley or Seagar? Don’t worry many people are as delusional as you.
I think a change of scenery would be good for Hanley. I think i read in another post the Marlins are willing to trade anyone. Only problem is his stock probably isnt so high right now and the Marlins probably will ask more than teams are willing to give.
Ramirez does need a change of scenery. Loria probably will never allow his favorite player to be moved, but he really does need a new situation.
31m due 2013-14 makes him a decent gamble considering the Fish would demand a hefty trade package in return, though teams would still line up.
Looks like Kevin Towers will change his legacy from “Pretty decent GM who is great at building bullpens” to “The guy who gave Justin Upton away”. Hopefully Arizona wises up and holds onto him, especially if other GM’s undervalue him as much as most of the fans on this forum do.
Kevin Towers will have little say in the matter if the owner doesn’t like Upton and wants him gone asap. Remember, this is the second year in a row that Upton has been on the trading block. There is something going on there.
Also, since OTHER GM’s know the owner doesn’t want Upton around and that this is the second year in a row that Upton has been on the trading block, they are NOT going to offer as much in value as what D-backs fans THINK Upton is worth.
The Tigers need to focus on snatching Upton away from the D-backs, like they snatched Cabrera away from the Marlins. Even with the awful deal they gave Dontrelle Willis, it was still a very lop-sided trade in the Tigers favor, yet was panned as a dreadful overpay at the time. If Upton has head-issues regarding his game and the way he plays it, guys like Cabrera, Fielder, Verlander, Avila, Leyland, Jackson, etc., will straighten him out. He’s a franchise-guy, and the D-backs must either know something we don’t (I’m sure they do) or they’re just sun-baked and going crazy to even entertain thoughts of moving him. They really need to move everyone else and build around Justin.
Probably shouldn’t mention Cabrera’s name there considering his police record.
Baseball-wise, he’s a fantastic teacher. Avila gives him full credit for his breakout season last year, and he’s worked with many of the Tigers hitters. His drinking problem is one of those human-like demons that, as crazy as it may seem, has an effect on high-paid athletes as well. It’s something he’s working on, and doing quite well with. Cabrera, above any other Tiger, could help Upton the most.
Stevn drew would be a huge uprgrade over barmes wounder what it ould take to get him cause we have no lnger term ss prospect inut system
Hey, Coletti! We need hitters more than we need starting pitching! Are you not watching the games?