David Wright's remarkable offensive production continued today, as he homered twice against the Nationals. He now boasts a .353/.443/.586 batting line, so he'll have considerable leverage should the Mets look to sign him long-term this coming offseason. Here are today's links…
- Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com hears that the Dodgers seem to have "50 or 60'' things going on with 12 days to go before the trade deadline. Jimmy Rollins is indeed one of the many established players that Dodgers executives are considering, Heyman writes.
- The Angels could use Cole Hamels and have the pieces to acquire him if the Phillies make him available, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes. “Why wouldn’t you want a guy like that in your rotation?” Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson asked Morosi.
- Dylan Bundy hasn’t thrown a pitch at the MLB level and Joey Votto is a former MVP who recently signed one of the biggest contracts in baseball history, but they have something in common, according to Dave Cameron of FanGraphs: lots and lots of trade value. Left-handers David Price, Madison Bumgarner and Clayton Kershaw have even more trade value than Bundy or Votto, Cameron writes.
- Ichiro Suzuki told Yahoo’s Jeff Passan (via a translator) that he’s not sure how he fits in the Mariners’ plans for 2013 and beyond. “If the team is saying they need you, you're necessary, then it becomes a piece,” Ichiro said. “But if it's just coming from the player, it's not going to happen." The Mariners plan to re-sign Ichiro after his contract expires this fall, GM Jack Zduriencik has said.
- I made a video appearance on the Score’s Getting Blanked Show today, discussing the Dodgers, Angels and Marlins. My conversation takes place at the 12 minute mark, but the entire show is worth watching.
I feel fairly certain the Reds didn’t sign Votto to a 10 year deal expecting to see his name still coming up in even the most out-of-the-blue trade speculation…
It’s not trade speculation. Cameron is making a list of the players with the most trade value in the league.
The players with the most trade value who will never be traded. That list is about as useful as a screen door in a submarine.
You got any of that paint that guys advertises on TV and the rowboat my friend 😉
Do you think that “paint” is going to help a SCREEN door?
It was a joke.
BTW.. I was in the USN and served for a bit on a sub tender. Ain’t much going to fix a hole the size of a door. 🙂
Please, Jack. Buy Ichiro a bottle of the finest Scotch with a note attached saying “Have fun in Japan. Thanks for the memories.”
I read on this board and the Mariners board all the disdain for Ichiro. My question is, why?
Ichiro is on pace for 170 Hits, 80 Runs scored and 20 Stolen bases, all while playing above average defense. For a team that is offensively challenged and out of the Play Off race, what is wrong with those numbers?
I thought Smoak and Ackley were supposed to be answers to the offensive problems? Looking at their stats, Ichiro has a higher Batting Average and Slugging Percentage than both of them and a higher On base Percentage than Smoak.
If Ichiro is so bad then why don’t the Mariners bring somebody up from the Minors who is better?
If there is nobody in the Minors who is ready then WHO are you wanting to trade for and WHAT are you willing to give up? Keep in mind that looking at the Mariners offensive stats as Safeco, whoever comes in isn’t a given to produce.
If there isn’t anybody available to trade for then WHO is a free agent that your team can go after (and that would WANT to hit in Safeco)?
As I see it, Ichiro (if he comes back at a lower rate of pay) is just as good, if not better than your other options for 2013.
The problem with keeping Ichiro as anything more than a backup lies in the fact that he would be blocking one of our outfielders, most likely Casper Wells who has done nothing but hit at the major league level and continues to do so with good defense. I’m an Ichiro fan, and he’s given the Mariners some great years, but you can’t continue to trot out a guy with an OPS .647 when you’re taking steps for your future. Saunders has played respectably this season. Gutierrez, albeit very small sample size before his concussion on a Franklin Morales pickoff throw vs. Boston, did decently well and plays the best defense in the game at CF. I’m all for signing Ichiro to an extension as insurance for some of these players as long as the figures are right and his playing time is reduced, but unless he has a great second half, I just can’t see him as an everyday player anymore.
Casper Wells, Gutierrez, and Michael Saunders are all better options in the outfield than Ichiro. We were fine with Ichiro not drawing walks when he was hitting .320, because it made up for it. But a sub .300 OBP is unacceptable from a guy hitting second in the lineup.
Hey there only offensivally challage at home on the road they have scored the most runs in the league
Zduriencik has never said the Mariners plan to re-sign Ichiro. He told Morosi that he expects Ichiro to be back, though Morosi doesn’t quote Zduriencik as saying that in his article.
how does bumgardner have more trade value than votto?
Votto’s contract is a Kagillion dollars. Bumgarner’s is coins in the car’s ashtray in comparison.
Well Bumgarner is making $35 million between now and his free agency and he is 22 years old. Plus he is also top of rotation material I think that’s why.
Get that ring Ichiro.