In today's Insider-only blog post, ESPN's Buster Olney says the Rays have a tough decision to make about trading James Shields. Clubs interested in acquiring him have to figure out how to value him – as an ace who finished third in the Cy Young voting last year, or as an innings-eater with a 4.52 ERA like this year. Similar questions are being asked about Josh Johnson of the Marlins. Here are the rest of Olney's rumors…
- Rival executives don't believe the Angels gave up any blue-chippers for Zack Greinke and that they have a good chance to retain him beyond this season.
- Olney believes the Reds and Phillies could match up well in a trade. Cincinnati is seeking a leadoff-type hitter type and Philadelphia has Shane Victorino or Juan Pierre to offer.
- The Orioles and Phillies are two teams to watch in the race for Chase Headley. Both clubs are seeking long-term third base solutions.
- Other clubs have called the Diamondbacks about Stephen Drew, but those teams now sense that Arizona will keep its shortstop according to Olney (on Twitter).
If Cincy wanted a leadoff hitter, Victorino wouldn’t be a good choice.
Lol hence why the Reds already rejected the propsed trade of Victorino for Ondruesk.
I don’t think you know what “hence” means.
Victorinos OBP as a leadoff hitter is .322, almost 30 points lower than his career average in 854 PA. his K/BB ratio from the leadoff spot is 1.8/1 and 1.35/1 everywhere else.
dude completely changes his approach at the plate when he leads off and he sucks at at. He’s not a leadoff hitter, even though people think he is, cause he’s fast. bad move.
There aren’t any great OBP guys out their available but I think Pierre matches up well across the board for what you look for in a lead off type. He should be relatively cheep (as in not requiring a top 100 type).
PS-While I was scouring thru possibilities it dawned on me…..the Yanks REALLY have a lot of players they’ve traded away that are doing quite well elsewhere. I think people need to stop underestimating the systems ability to produce quality mlb players.
Robinson Cano-4.8 WAR
Melky Cabrera-4.2 WAR
Austin Jackson-4.1 WAR
Ian Kennedy-2.5 WAR
David Robertson- 2.13 FIP
Tyler Clippard- 2.74 FIP
Phil Cole- 2.95 FIP
Alfredo Aceves, Boone Logan, Brett Gardner, etc.
Not a lot of blue chip prospect status guys or MAJOR stars (other than Cano) but just good players who will all probably be around for 10 years plus in the majors.
Now if only the Hughes, Joba and Montero types would push over the threshold of stardom…that would bring it all together…haha
As far as I know, David Robertson is still on the Yankees
So is Cano…
@MB923:disqus @rick well….you guys get the point.
I would prefer pierre over victorino but i dont care for either one. I also dont think span is the right move since we have hamilton coming up soon. Are there any other leadoff type guys available? I would rather the reds aquire another big bat than a leadoff hitter.
Pierre or Span are my choice. Yes its true that Hamilton will be coming soon but he isn’t projected to make the team until 2013 or 2014 and even still, he’d have to practice in the OF as we have better options, at SS.
We are looking at leadoff hitters for this season and maybe next year with these trades. Hamilton is going to be our leadoff hitter in the future.
I’d prefer Dexter Fowler over both Pierre and Span. With the Rockies needing pitching we would match up extremely well with them in a trade. I’m more high on Span than Pierre though.
It’s funny that people still think Pierre is good at baseball. Even with a fluky offensive start to the season he has a whopping .6 WAR and this goes with his faulty not so bad UZR, UZR needs to find something to mark it park adjusted, CBP helps with HR’s but dimensions are small so more balls hit in the OF turn to outs than the average ballpark, this has helped Pierre’s UZR and his WAR. Once Pierre offense regresses to the norm he at best becomes a capable 5th OF.
No one is saying JP is a superstar but considering what his skill set is and the other leadoff OF options he is the best candidate
Also, how can you call him flukish? He has a .319 BaBIP which is only slightly better than his career average of .313. JP is what he has always been….a very good contact hitter who wouldn’t recognize a walk if he woke up in bed next to one. For JP average = obp and just because this is his 1st year hitting over .300 since 2009 doesn’t make it a fluke. Also, JP has historically been a very good defender with respect to range. it’s his noodle of an arm that makes him a defensive liability.
I’d rather have Span, but Pierre’s OBA would give the guys hitting in the 3-5 holes more opportunities for RBIs. My question would be is Pierre even an upgrade over Paul who has been awesome for us so far?
What are either the Orioles or the Phillies going to offer for Headley? Both farm systems are devoid of any talent.
False.
Granted, other systems are definitely more talented, but both the Phillies and Orioles have some talent to trade.
They shouldn’t, but saying they’re “devoid” isn’t true.
Philly, baltimore, Oakland, maybe Pittsburg (which makes little sense) are the main players. aside from Oakland, who is probably not gonna make a huge offer for him, the haul is gonna end up less than expected.
Don’t be surprised to see Philly do a 3 way deal either. pence for prospects, and a combination of those prospects and one of May, Biddle maybe.
When RAJ comes out and says “We’re comfortable with Polanco at 3B next season 3 days before the deadline he’s posturing for a 3B…. Philly will end up with Headley by the 1st. mark it down.
But if the Phils trade Hunter Pence who will they have in RF
And before people say D Brown he is been manly playing CF and LF for the pigs
Maybe something like this would work for Dbacks, Blue Jays, and the A’s.
A’s Get Stephen Drew
Dbacks get Escobar
Blue Jays prospects from both dbacks and A’s
This gives A’s a ss they are looking for, dbacks get a SS that can help this year as well as signed cheap next year, and the blue jays get what they want in some prospects. Not sure which prospects they would be looking for though
Worley, May and Greene may get trade for Headley done with Phillies. Or Brown, May and someone like Pettibone or Walding.