Potential Edgar Renteria Scenarios, A Former Wideout Might Be Coming Up And A Potential Rick Ankiel - In Reverse...

Possible Stops For Edgar Renteria

The Braves were really serious about looking to unload Edgar Renteria and replacing him with Yuniel Escobar at the deadline, but the right trade couldn’t be made.  Now, the Braves will look to move him in the off-season.

Renteria has been excellent for the Braves and has regained his All-Star form.  He's basically an $8 million a year player since Boston is foothing a large part of the bill on his contract and would bring in two draft picks if allowed to leave via free agency.  The Braves are looking for some sort of pitching, or a centerfielder.

Is there a fit?

Sort of.

Take a look

1. Chicago White Sox - The Sox could offer Jon Garland and Brian Anderson and change in exchange for Renteria, who would fill a hole if the White Sox allow the awful Juan Uribe to leave.  The only problem is would the Braves believe that Anderson is a talent that just needs a change of scenery, or is he a disaster waiting to happen.
2. Oakland Athletics - Bubba Crosby looks done and there aren't a lot of shortstop options available.  The A's could potentially move parts in exchange for Renteria, but as far as any sort of impact talent, there isn't much on this roster that fits the bill.
3. Minnesota Twins - The Twins could be on the move, as Jason Barlett would be able to move over to Third Base and allow Renteria to take over short, plugging two holes at once.  The only issue is this...The Twins won't trade pitching, and even though they have some in the minors, they aren't going to move it.
4. Detroit Tigers - The Tigers have been looking for a way to move Carlos Guillen to first in order to manage the wear and tear on him.  They have the farm system to do the move and could afford the contract.  There is a fit here, especially since they have a centerfield prospect in Gorkeys Hernandez that Atlanta would find very tempting.  I like this move a lot.
5. Toronto Blue Jays - The Jays would like to add Renteria and would love to find a way to get him, but there isn't a lot to move here and the Jays would balk at any package surrounding Alex Rios.  There also isn't any farm products even near ready to be traded.

So all in all, the potential is there for a move, but really there isn't a lot of players that Atlanta would be able to come away with and claim victory for the trade.  Personally, I'd be all over a deal for the Tigers, as Hernandez could really be that good.

The Next Rick Ankiel? - Sort Of

Lance Niekro is a bad positional player for the Giants.

That much is known.

He was pretty much drafted by the Giants because of his bloodlines and the fact that his father played for the Giants.

Apparently, Niekro is going to give something else a try.

Pitching.

Niekro has been working on a knuckleball.  Should he feel up to it (and if the Giants feel, what the hell, can’t be much worse), he could try and pull a Rick Ankiel and come back…as a pitcher.

The idea isn’t unheard of.  Trevor Hoffman was a weak hitting shortstop before he became a hall of famer.  Ron Mahay was originally an outfielder before becoming a decent pitcher.  Troy Percival was originally a catcher before he became a pitcher.  First round bust Matt Bush was having success as a pitcher until he blew his arm out.  So the track record is there.

Who knows?  Niekro could wind up being very good.  He could also wind up being an even worse disaster than he already is.  We’ll see..

Samardzija Coming To Chicago?

The Cubs are considering bringing up Jeff Samardzija when the rosters expand on September 1.  Samardzija may get a start and appear in relief, depending on how far the Cubs are ahead or behind in the divisional race once the 1st rolls around.

I’m not exactly sure if this is a great idea.  I understand that Samardzija is classified as a power pitcher, but his lack of strikeouts for the year disturbs me.  I’m really not sure if this is a great ideal at all.  This idea seems #### horrible to me.