Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Strasburg, Cordero, Swisher
On this date 25 years ago, B.J. Upton was born. The second overall pick in the '02 draft, Bossman Junior made his big league debut in 2004, but will be arbitration-eligible for the first time following this season. The Rays prefer to lock up their young players to long-term deals, but there has never been an indication that Upton is willing to sign long-term. With the signing deadline for most draft picks now past, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- The Biz of Baseball looks at how the slotting system held up with this year's draft (not very well).
- Capitol Avenue Club declares the winners and losers of this year's draft.
- Nationals Pride notes that the Nationals are two-for-two in their decisions affecting Stephen Strasburg.
- Center Field Gate likes the Stephen Strasburg deal, but wants to see what Strasburg can do before getting too excited.
- Sully Baseball notes that Stephen Strasburg needs to get past Betty White before he is worth $50M.
- Around the Majors looks back the Reds' decision to give Francisco Cordero a $46MM contract.
- 6 Pound 8 Ounce Baby Joba revisits the deal that brought Nick Swisher to the Yankees.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Deadline, Rios, Yanks
On this date two years ago, the Yankees and Padres failed to reach an agreement on a trade for Kei Igawa after San Diego claimed the pitcher on waivers. The Yankees also chose not to let Igawa go to the Padres for just the waiver claim. Since then Igawa has made two starts for the Yankees and has spent the entire '09 season in Triple-A. With several teams active in the waiver market this season, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- Around the Majors takes a look at how the deadline deals have worked so far.
- The Blue Jay Hunter looks at what the Alex Rios move could mean for the Jays moving forward.
- The Sports Bank gives 11 reasons why Alex Rios was a good pick up for the White Sox.
- A Game Of Inches argues that the White Sox would have been better off acquiring a minor league center fielder.
- UmpBump makes the case that the Alex Rios move was good for both sides.
- Josh's Thoughts takes a look at what the acquisition of Alex Rios by the White Sox means for the Twins and the rest of the AL Central.
- The Pinstriper imagines what the Yankees roster would look like today had they signed Mike Lowell in '07.
- Jorge Says No! says the Jays still need to move Vernon Wells if they ever want to move forward.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Deadline Deals
On this date nine years ago the Rangers traded Dave Martinez to the Blue Jays. It was the third time Martinez had been traded since the beginning of the season. That night, Martinez would tie a big league record by playing for his fourth franchise in one season. He also appeared with the Devil Rays and the Cubs. Martinez' current club, the Rays, did not make any trade deadline deals, but plenty of other teams did. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- MLB Notebook hosted a round-table discussing the trade deadline winners and losers.
- Sully Baseball says declaring winners and losers this soon is meaningless.
- Zells Pinstripe Blog says the trade deadline was not as bad for the Yankees as many think.
- Rays Revolutionary explains why it was not important for the Rays to make any deadline deals.
- UmpBump wonders how Adam LaRoche makes the Braves better in 2010, as some have suggested.
- Capitol Avenue Club explains the reasoning behind the Adam LaRoche deal for the Braves.
- Talking Chop looks at what the Adam LaRoche trade means for Chipper Jones' future in Atlanta.
- Dodgers Rumors looks at some August waiver-wire trade targets for the Dodgers.
- MLB Insights makes a case that J.P. Ricciardi's tenure has been a successful one.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Overbay, Halladay, Peavy, LaRoche
On this date 45 years ago Barry Bonds was born. And even though he hasn't played in a game since September 26, 2007, Bonds has not yet retired. We are one week from the trade deadline, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- Statistician Magician makes a case for the Braves going after Lyle Overbay.
- The Oriole Report lists the players most likely to be dealt by the O's before the deadline.
- The Phrontiersman feels the Phillies can win without Roy Halladay but still feels Philadelphia should make the deal.
- The Fowl Balls says the Mets made the right decision in passing on Roy Halladay.
- We're The Team To Beat looks at how Jake Peavy's injury is impacting the current trade market, driving up the price for Roy Halladay.
- SoxSpace dissects what the Adam LaRoche deal means for the Red Sox.
- Around the Majors takes a look back at Oakland's offseason moves and what went wrong.
- Hot Foot examines the Mets' expiring contracts.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Lee, Halladay, Holliday, Zito
On this date one year ago, the Phillies traded three minor leaguers to the A's for Joe Blanton. He would go on to make 13 starts for the Fightins, finishing 4-0 with a 4.20 ERA. With only two weeks remaining before this season's trade deadline, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- MLB Notebook says it is time for the Indians to move Cliff Lee.
- The Ghost of Moonlight Graham breaks down the needs of the contenders as we approach the deadline.
- Drunk Jays Fans explains why Roy Halladay should be traded and why he will still be a Blue Jay in August.
- Talking Chop breaks down the Matt Holliday to Atlanta rumors.
- The Fowl Balls says the Yankees need to get Roy Halladay and is willing to part with Joba Chamberlain, Austin Jackson and others. Just not Phil Hughes.
- Viva El Birdos breaks down what it would cost the Cardinals to land Roy Halladay in terms of players and money.
- The Voice of Yankees Universe looks at some big names that could be moved and have an impact on the AL East.
- Jorge Says No! looks at whether Barry Zito's contract was the worst ever given to a pitcher.
- We're the Team to Beat wonders why Omar Minaya is still calling the shots for the Mets.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Halladay
On this date one year ago, Richie Sexson was released by the Seattle Mariners with almost $8MM remaining on his contract. Sexson would later sign with the Yankees and appear in 22 games and hit one home run. With the trade deadline fast approaching, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- MLB Notebook breaks down the contenders for Roy Halladay.
- Over the Monster says the Red Sox won't trade for Roy Halladay and they don't need him.
- The Yankee Universe takes a look at what trading for Roy Halladay would mean for the Yankees' payroll.
- Sports Jabber says the Phillies "must" acquire Roy Halladay as long as they don't have to give up anybody that would potentially help the team this year or next.
- Simon on Sports weighs the pros and cons of trading Roy Halladay.
- Fire Brand of the American League sees the Red Sox as the best fit for Roy Halladay as long as the Jays are willing to deal within the division.
- The Phrontiersman makes a case that the Phillies farm system is deep enough to surrender their top prospects for Roy Halladay.
- Sox and Pinstripes argues that neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox will land Roy Halladay.
- Sports of Boston looks at who the Red Sox should keep and who they should move in the next few weeks, in light of the Roy Halladay rumors.
- The Blue Jay Hunter offers the viewpoint of a Jays fan on the Roy Halladay rumors.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.
Odds And Ends: Moneyball, Draft Signings, Halladay
A few more links for your evening…
- Jon Weisman of the LA Times reports that the movie based on “Moneyball” has once again been green-lighted with Aaron Sorkin signed on to finish the script.
- The Mariners have signed their supplemental first round pick, Steven Baron, for $980K.
- Keith Law reports that negotiations between the Brewers and one of their supplemental picks, #39 overall Kentrail Davis, have “gotten ugly” after the Brewers agreed to his demands and then he turned it down.
- Joel Sherman reports that if Roy Halladay is traded to the NL before the All-Star game, he will not be permitted to pitch in the mid-summer classic for the AL, but could be allowed to pitch for the NL representing his new team.
- Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News says the Roy Halladay situation is unlike two other situations in which big-name pitchers were traded within the AL East, including David Cone and Roger Clemens.
Gammons On International Free Agents
Lots of interesting details in this write up by Peter Gammons on International free agents. Among the topics covered…
- An investigation by MLB security into identification fraud could lead to the deportation of as many as 100 minor leaguers.
- Money given to international free agents has more than tripled in past five years.
- Gammons says the slotting system in the amateur draft doesn't work because the richer teams ignore the recommendations. However, because of revenue sharing, the small-market teams now have more money to give to international free agents.
- The commissioner's office refuses to sign off on the signing of an unnamed fourth round pick (of a "small-market Central Division team") because the player and the team agreed to a contract above the commissioner's recommendation.
- Gammons feels that the NCAA's new restrictions on scholarships, along with the lower signing bonuses, will drive more kids to football and basketball.
- The highest bonus ever given to an international free agent was the $7MM given to Rolando Arrojo by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Gammons adds that Cuban baseball cards he received in 1994 showed several players, including Arrojo, to have ages much different than those listed with MLB.
Meche Wants To Stay With Royals
Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star has some quotes from Gil Meche about the possibility of him waiving his no-trade clause.
“When that time comes,” [Meche] said, “then I’ll answer that question. But I’m not going to address speculation. Do I want to go somewhere? No. That’s about all I can say…I don’t want to go anywhere…I know this is the last year of the no-trade (clause) in my contract, but I would like to be here to win. That’s why I signed to come here in the first place.”
Meche is in the third year of a 5-year/$55MM deal which will pay him $12MM in each of the next two seasons. The '09 season is the final year with a no-trade clause. Meche is 4-8 with a 4.14 ERA this season.
Indians Interested In Gobble, Not Ryan
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says that the Indians are not interested in signing BJ Ryan even though they nearly signed him four years ago. Instead, Hoynes says the Indians are interested in Jimmy Gobble, who was just designated for assignment by the White Sox. If the Indians do acquire Gobble, Hoynes says the lefty would be assigned to AAA. Gobble allowed 14 hits and seven walks in 12 innings this season, striking out ten.
Alyson Footer of MLB.com also reports that Ed Wade said the Astros do not have any interest in signing Ryan, or Pedro Martinez for that matter.