Here's a look at the latest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- The Indians and Pirates have been linked to most of the big available bats but Cleveland is placing a greater priority on finding a starting pitcher. Johnny Damon has been hitting well this summer and the Tribe doesn't think that they'll be able to top his output via trade. As for the Pirates, they're first in the majors in runs since June 1st and but would like to bolster their OBP. Shane Victorino would make sense for them down the stretch, Rosenthal opines.
- The Dodgers are the one team that could swallow Cliff Lee's contract in a trade, but it's hard to see what the Phillies could gain from such a deal when looking at Los Angeles' thin farm system. Lee could be a strong candidate to be moved as GM Ruben Amaro Jr. looks to build for the future and the hurler can only say no to eight clubs without his permission.
- The Padres are talking about keeping Carlos Quentin, Huston Street, and Edinson Volquez as they're optimistic about their chances next season. Their play of late has been encouraging and they believe that they can be serious players next season when their pitching is healthy again. The one guy who is still likely to go is Chase Headley as he can be replaced with Jedd Gyorko and the offers for him should be strong.
- The Marlins demonstrated their willingness to trade Hanley Ramirez in their talks with the Red Sox and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them step up their efforts before the deadline. The Dodgers, Diamondbacks, A's, Mariners, and Pirates could all use a shortstop or third baseman, but it's not clear if they'd be willing to take on his hefty contract.
I could see the Diamondbacks trade Holmberg and Davidson for Hanley and cash
Davidson might be untouchable until the team gets a grasp on how well Wheeler will do at 3B at the top level. A Drew trade could also determine their interest in someone like Ramirez too. But if I were to guess, the FO tries to stay away from players who are known to ruffle feathers, at least publicly.
I wouldn’t be surprised seeing hanley as a base for a Justin upton deal works out for both sides
inb4 Ellsbury traded
Gotta love those “planned” offdays.
i bet it will most likely be in the offseason if he gets traded.
Hanley would look good in a Mariners uniform…
King Felix would look good in a Marlins uniform…
Throw in Stanton and discussions can begin
Call us back when King Felix breaks a scoreboard beyond the fence in left field.
I’d be surprised if they move Headley now, most likely in the offseason. Still should be an interesting deadline.
Its great to see the Padres wanting to keep some players for once!I want to keep Headley..but like you said it’ll most likely happen in the offseason.Im glad to see the Padres want to keep Street and Quentin..Two players that want to be here. Quentins game last night was awesome and i hope he can start hitting at Petco consistantly. STreet has been dominant not giving up a run for over a month, and the guys shouldve got an inning in the ASG!!
street and quentin are luxuries. We need to get what we can from their value now. If quentin is seriously that valuable to the team we can sign him in the offseason
I have to agree, I am not sure I want to invest in a 29 year old, oft injured outfielder. Street I can see going 2 years 14 million for, but I think his offers will be much stronger on the FA market. Would love to see three or four prospects come in in trading those two. Headley’s haul should be really strong also.
I do not think you can get much for Quentin, because of his injury history, but also because the new team will not get any compensation draft picks [which the Padres would get if they keep him]. Do you think the new team would give the Padres players that are more highly valued then the draft picks the Padres would get if Quentin does not resign? Street has a team option, so even if we exercise that, they can trade him next year if need be. The only way I trade Headley is if we get an above average MLB ready corner outfielder or shortstop prospect in return.
Quentin is hitting under .200 over the past month even after last night. Throw in an 0-fer tonight and he is hitting .203 in the 33 games since his 6 game hot streak to start HIS season ended on June 5th.
Over the past month Guzman has a 30 point higher batting average and as many home runs in less than half the AB.
Major mistake to keep an expensive guy (likely asking for upwards of $10 million) that hasn’t played more than 103 games in the field since 2008 (and wont in 2012) and when he does play is among worst fielders in the game at his position.
Rather keep the young and a cheap but more valuable guy that plays every game.
Last I heard Padres were asking for a package very similar to what they received for Latos in trade for Headley. IF they can get that much, then trade him, if not keep him. Headley is among top five 3B in baseball and there is no guarantee that Gyorko can hit at the ML level what he is doing in minors. Not to mention equaling Headley’s high level on defense. Bring Gyorko up and let him share duties at 2B/OF with Forsythe and see IF he can hit MLB pitching consistently. Then consider trade of Headley at end of season. MUCH smarter option. Headley will still be mighty valuable in off season.
I dont mind seeing Street option picked up, but he is going to be very expensive too. Are there options in house that can save the Padres money and get similar results? Possibly. Cashner and several others are the closers in waiting and if Padres aren’t going to go for it in 2013, then no reason to spend the money on Street.
Volquez has made leaps and bounds since joining the Padres and would be worth locking up to longer term right now.
Volquez in a rotation with a healthy Stauffer, Bass, Luebke and Richard would be formidable in 2013.
I dont get it..Your calling Quentin one of the worst outfielders at his position..yet..you want Forsythe or Gyorko to play it sometimes?Makes no sense at all.Quentin is a proven power hitter that averages a lil over 20 bombs a game.He might be injured frequently,but if the Padres are cautious and give him a day off once in a while then were fine.keeping a good 4th OF for that would be a great idea(DEno).
Keeping street is also a great idea as he can teach a younger future closer what you have to do as a major-league closer.When having ayoug Starting staff it is key t have a great confidence because it gives you a little more confidence knowing you have somebody that can close it out.
Although Cash was injured after 3 starts..I think he is better suited for a starter.he has better command and hits his spots .Since Luebke is out until atleast May..it will give Cash some chances to prove himself.
Ilike a Rotation of Stauffer,Richard,Volquez, Cashner,Bass until Luebke returns. Whoever struggles the most is the odd man out when Lubke returns.
How would adding Victorino and his .316 OB% help the Pirates bolster their OB%?
The Pirates outfield as a whole also has a .316 OBP, largely due to McCutchen’s .427 OBP. They have a .294 OBP overall from RF and a .260 OBP overall from LF, so Victorino’s .316 actually would be an improvement.
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Johnny Damon has been hitting well this summer”
Passable in June, great in July in a small sample size. Still would like to see him replaced.
Yes, and preferably with a right handed batter. Are the Indians allergic to those that swing on the right side? Balance, in all things, is a good thing.
I wouldn’t say he is hitting “great” in July. He has a better batting average, but he has a grand total of NO walks and NO home runs with one double and a triple. Overall, he is hitting barely better than June. He is holding his own, I suppose, but I remain skeptical. Hopefully, he can continue to improve as the season goes along, but I would prefer that the Tribe added another outfield bat.
Johnny Damon is NOT hitting well!
Rosenthal’s statement also perplexed me. 0.233/0.296/0.356 is hitting well? He has been bad at the plate and even worse in the field. Its been very difficult watching him play this year. I wish the Indians had gone after Willingham this past offseason.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Hanley in Black and Gold. I doubt the Buccos would part with the type of package it would take though. And if he is traded (highly unlikely), it will probably be for more than he actually ends up being worth. I know he is at 3b this year, but how was he defensively at SS before this year? Anyone know his UZR?
From what I remember, he was kind of like Ronny Cedeno at SS – could make great plays, but botched some routine ones (~.970 fielding %). His value is his bat, but not with the amount of time he spends on the DL every year (plays fewer games every season – only 92 games last year). The Pirates seem to be doing fine getting next to no offense from SS; no reason to mortgage prospects for a terrible value.
Botched routine plays is an understatement. He routinely frustrated fans at SS. I was just really angry with Hanley two seasons ago when he kicked a ball into left field and couldn’t care less about it. No doubt that helped to speed up Fredi Gonzalez’s firing. And Hanley had the audacity to say he lost respect for Fredi after Fredi benched him for complete lack of teamwork.
Granted, I lost respect for Fredi for other reasons, but this was a time he gained points in my book, and Hanley lost a whole lot of respect among fans.
Don’t forget the double clutch on throws either, sometimes allowing just enough time for baserunners to beat out a ball. mediocre range (at best) playing SS.
Teams only *think* they would want him at SS, until they had to see him play it on an everyday basis.
It is interesting exactly what position Boston was interested in him at. Middlebrooks is at 3b, they could use a SS for a few years until one of the SS (pick one) is ready at high A ball and lower.
They could have been thinking of moving Middlebrooks was a possibility, then leaving Ramirez at 3b, after all, Boston has already endured Lugo and rent-a-wreck over the last 8 years or so and IMO, Ramirez plays a worse defensive SS than either of those 2.
it would have been interesting regardless to just have known what the plan was.
Would be nice if the Marlins could trade Hanley for Cespedes + other prospects, but considering what Beane asked for Gio this offseason, he’ll probably want Hanley and Stanton for Cespedes.
Hanley’s trade value has to be at an all time low right now.
The Crawford/Hanley swap sounded interesting, and a deal like that is probably the best way for the Marlins to get the best value if they end up trading Hanley. If they trade him for prospects, the return is going to be mediocre at best.
Edit: Also, a return on Cespedes wouldn’t have anything to do with Gio. It would have everything to do with the fact that Cespedes is hitting .355/.400/.612 since he returned from the DL. But it’s a moot point anyway. There’s no way the A’s are trading Cespedes.
Considering pretty much every team in the Majors is looking for a big bat at 3rd base right now, I’d have to disagree and say they could get quite a lot for him.
no way would we give you cespedes even if it was cespedes for hanley straight up
AA – Get Hanley and trade Yunel Escobar and Hech for some top of the rotation starter(s). Of course, getting Hanley wont be cheap.
Victorino is not what the Pirates need! Don’t understand why everyone keeps saying hes what they need. We do not need some 30some year old has been.
I like how the Pirates are looking to boost their OBP, so Rosenthal suggests a guy with an OBP of 0.316 right now. How is that a boost? Historically, not too bad, but this year? No way.
Well, considering Presley has a .272 OBP and Jones a .293 mark, I guess it’s an upgrade.
Wouldnt mind Hanley in Pittsburgh, but would probably like Bonafacio more to be honest. He would immediately step in and replace Clint Barmes at shortstop and would also become the teams leadoff hitter. The pirates could kill two birds with 1 stone. Get it done NH…Id love that move not just for this run, but for the next 3 seasons.
Astros, Mariners, and Red Sox should make a three way trade to bolster the positions each teams are looking. First, the Seattle Mariners should acquire Bret Lillibridge from the Boston Red Sox & pitcher Bud Norris from the Houston Astros, Red Sox to acquire pitcher Jason Vargas from the Mariners & infielder Jimmy Paredes from the Astros, and Houston Astros to acquire Chone Figgins from the Mariners and a minor league player to be named from the Red Sox. Finally, Red Sox can acquire Chase Headley from the San Diego Padres for infielder Chone Figgins if the BoSox are interested in landing Headley.