Time for another team preview, our third in a series of 30. Time to see who the hat wants to see today…
The last of the Divisions makes their debut.
Atlanta Braves – Team Preview
The Braves, they of the long division winning streak, have finally tasted some humility in recent years, due to the churning of a productive farm system and the result of the increasingly tight restrictions of their budget, which once allowed them to spend freely.
However, the Braves still have some talent on the team, also thanks to the farm system, but many of the pieces that make up the Braves are aging and might not hold up for much longer. You'll see what I mean in a moment.
Starting Rotation
John Smoltz (RHP) – Still dominant at his age, Smoltz’s stuff hasn’t dimmed much, but he has begun to break down a bit, missing time last season due to injury. Still, he’s a quality staff ace and one who will serve as a stopper when needed.
Tom Glavine (LHP) – Glavine returns for a farewell tour with the Braves this season. While he has proven that he can at least be an innings sponge, I’m not sure how much he has left. It may have been better for him to just retire.
Tim Hudson (RHP) – Hudson remains a potential top of the rotation starter and will likely rise to the role of staff ace once Smoltz finally retires. Though Hudson should be the Number two man, expect the Braves to separate him and Smoltz with Glavine.
Chuck James (LHP) – James too is another player I’m not high on. He’s got enough stuff to be a middle of the rotation starter, but he has faded badly during the last month of season. He’s very homer prone and his control isn’t great. I’m also not sure he can last a whole season. So call me skeptical when it comes to how successful I think James will be.
Mike Hampton (LHP) – On the other hand, I’m a lot more confident in James than I am in the one time ace of the Houston Astros, who has been an out and out disaster for the Braves. This is supposed to be the season Hampton will actually contribute. As a fifth starter, the Braves aren’t risking much, as they have an assortment of young starters they can plug in here if Hampton fails or gets hurt.
Bullpen
Rafael Soriano (Closer) – Soriano is one of the biggest steals that the Braves have made in recent memory. A lights out reliever that should succeed in the closer’s role, he was acquired for Horatio Ramirez, who has been disastrous for the Mariners. He should take the next step to eliteness this season.
Mike Gonzalez (Setup Man) – A solid reliever who could also close if necessary, Gonzalez will likely setup Soriano, depending on whether or not he’s ready. I’m assuming he is.
Peter Moylan (RHP) – A dependable reliever, this Aussie is an amazing story, having been virtually signed off of the Australian World Baseball Classic team last March. He’s since made good on the opportunity.
Will Ohman (LHP) – Ohman is a more than adequate replacement for Ron Mahay, as he’s an effective lefty specialist.
Royce Ring (LHP) – Ring finally got his shot in the majors with San Diego, but was dealt to the Braves in the Wil Ledezma deal. Ring has decent stuff, enough to be a solid middle reliever, but his big issue has been control.
Manny Acosta (RHP) - Called up late in the year, Acosta was rather good and should see time with the Braves this season.
Buddy Carlyle (RHP) – Carlyle was an adequate fifth starter for a bit, but it looks like he’ll be moved back into the swingman role for Atlanta, which may suit him better anyway, as he was figured out late last season.
Starting Lineup
Kelly Johnson (2B) – The only real choice here for a leadoff man, Johnson has the potential to be an All-Star second baseman after the Braves shrewdly moved him back to the infield after playing left. Johnson has decent hands moderate pop for a second baseman, though he isn’t quite as fast of disciplined as your stereotypical leadoff man. Still, he’s a solid bet to improve and I’m willing to be that he’ll break out this year.
Yunel Escobar (SS) – The starting job is all his now after Escobar was impressive filling in for Edgar Renteria last year. I doubt he’ll hit .326 again, but if he lives up to his minor league numbers, what the Braves will be getting is .294/.367/.411 out of the second spot in the lineup, which still isn’t nothing to sneeze at. Still, I wonder if maybe shortstop prospect Brent Lillibridge might be the better bet long term.
Mark Teixeira (1B) – Teixeira offers a lot of power, but also is a disciplined enough hitter to hit for a high average and get on base. He’s a Gold Glove defender at first base and is one of the better players in the game. He adds a major power threat to this Braves lineup, but to be quite honest, he is a mercenary player, as he is likely going to walk after this season for a bank breaking contract. Atlanta has said they would try to extend him, but Teixeira is one of Scott Boras’ most devoted clients. Which means, in the long run, Atlanta will likely only get a pair of draft picks for him.
Chipper Jones (3B) – Still a formidable offensive presence in the middle of the lineup, you do have to start looking for Jones’ replacement if you’re the Braves, as Jones is older and will only be good for able 130 games or so. Still, getting that level of power production for 130 games is nothing to sneeze at and for the most part, he’s still able to handle the hot corner well.
Jeff Francoeur (RF) – Probably a bit overrated, Francoeur is an excellent right fielder that carries a lot of thunder in his bat. He has also been very prone to striking out and needs to improve on his walk total. He has improved a bit in the past few years, so it might not be surprising to see if he takes that next step from a masher to an all around offensive force.
Brian McCann (C) – Possibly the best young backstop in the National League, McCann is a solid defensive player that is respected by his pitchers and calls a good game. He also has excellent power numbers and is a solid fit here in the sixth spot, especially when you consider the heavy hitters ahead of him. While the dip in homers is a concern, McCann does get a bit of a pass because he got hurt, which may have affected him.
Matt Diaz (LF) – Not a bad left fielder, as he has nice pop in his bat, is decent defensively and can be a solid contributor until Brandon Jones is ready. I like him a lot and though Tampa and Kansas City gave up on him too quickly a while back. He’s a bit of a free swinger, but he’ll likely see his walk totals increase this year because of the pitcher and the next guy on the list.
Mark Kotsay (CF) – The Braves are gambling that Kotsay can at least contribute something to the team this year, as Kotsay looked done last year. Really, I’m not sure what the Braves can expect out of him, as his power looks gone, he no longer looks like he’ll handle the rigors of centerfield everyday anymore and there is no guarantee that he’ll be able to stay upright for most of the season. Honestly, the Braves should have just offered arbitration to Andruw Jones, hoped he accepted, and just gutted out the season with a big salary.
Bench
Brayan Pena (C) – A decent backup catcher, Pena doesn’t have much of a bat, but he’s a solid glove that can be relied on in a pinch.
Omar Infante (UTIL) – A solid utilityman, Infante can adequately play nearly every position except catcher. His bat is decent and he'd be a adequate stopgap in case of injury.
Josh Anderson (OF) – Anderson will likely be the main backup for the Braves outfielders and could see time in center if Kotsay is unable to stand up to the rigors of the position. Anderson is merely a fourth outfielder, but he could be a decent one, as he has a decent approach at the plate and a little bit of pop.
Martin Prado (INF) – Prado will likely serve as the other infield backup. He’s okay, but not stellar.
Minor League Notables
Jair Jurrjens (RHP) – Acquired from the Tigers in the Edgar Renteria deal, Jurrjens was solid in his major league debut and works with a low 90's fastball and a decent curve and changeup. However, he's also been overworked in his career, so he could be injury prone later. Still, he wouldn't be bad as a fifth starter for the Braves.
Jojo Reyes (LHP) - Another young lefty, Reyes has enough stuff to become a good 4th starter or so. He could also see time later in the year.
Brandon Jones (LF) - Jones has a lot of power and is eventually going to succeed Matt Diaz in left, sooner rather than later.
Final Analysis
The Braves do have enough talent to keep things interesting in the National League East, but overall I think the aging rotation and the Braves essentially punting away two lineup spots will eventually cost them. Sorry Braves fans, but you won't be winning the division again for a little while.
Well, after the Marlins preview, let's see who the hat has to check out today...
Hmm, we stay in the National League.
Los Angeles Dodgers - Team Preview
Well, so much of the Dodgers having the most talented group of youngsters in the division. After a decision to commit too long to the veteren's, the Dodgers have instead decided to embrace their youthful core for the lack of better alternatives. Still blessed with a solid farm system and a lot of pitching talent, the Dodgers aren't going to be a foe to be triffled with this season. Still, there are some weaknesses on this team, mostly due to vets that have no business starting likely to be started anyway, thanks to Joe Torre.
Starting Rotation
Brad Penny (RHP) – Underrated by many, Penny is a top of the rotation starter that can flat out dominate when he’s healthy. His contract is a steal and the Dodgers wisely held onto him last season after debating about shopping him around. It’s almost a sure bet that he’ll get his club option exercised next season, giving the Dodgers an extra season before bringing up uberprospect Clayton Kershaw.
Chad Billingsley (RHP) – A good young pitcher, Billingsley showed last season that he could become a top of the rotation starter if given the chance to prove himself. With a good combination of stuff and poise, Billingsley should rise through the rotation and establish himself as the next staff ace.
Derek Lowe (RHP) – Lowe is an innings eater that will generate a lot of groundballs and should post respectable numbers. All in all, it probably would have been best for Boston to keep him, as he was a good fit for their park, but overall he’s done rather well for himself in LA and should look to cash in free agency next season.
Hiroki Kuroda (RHP) – The latest Japanese Import, Kuroda is a decent pitcher. His fastball clocks in the high 80’s/low 90’s with some sink and he’s got a good curveball and a decent breaking ball. He commands all of his offerings well, however, and though he had a bit of elbow trouble, it was cleared up by Dr. Lewis Yocum. All in all, he’s a solid bet to be a good number four starter and isn’t expensive.
Jason Schmidt (RHP) – Well, it turns out the Giants did know what they were doing when they didn’t make a bigger push to keep their ace. Schmidt is likely going to be the fifth man in the rotation due to his need for a slow recovery from shoulder surgery, and will likely never be the guy that the Dodgers hoped they signed. But he could be a very good middle of the rotation man if he successfully bounces back.
Bullpen
Takashi Saito (Closer) – One of the more effective closers in baseball, and one of the bigger bargains to boot, Saito is money in save opportunities, though I would caution that he is older and he has a lot of mileage on his arm. Grady Little actually did a good job of keeping him fresh and not abusing him. The man replacing him isn’t as kind. Still, a decent season should be expected from him.
Jonathan Broxton (Setup Man) – The Dodgers’ closer of the future, Broxton is built like a bull and has great stuff to go with it. He’s also a prime candidate to be overused by Joe Torre.
Joe Beimel (LHP) - A dependable lefty that shouldn't be in anymore bar fights anytime soon, Beimel helps augment what should be a dynamite setup corps.
Hong Chi Kuo (LHP) – Kuo had the stuff to be a starter, but not the stamina. So, he returns to the middle relief/swingman role that he did well in back in 2006.
Scott Proctor (RHP) – The one guy that was probably the least thrilled about Joe Torre coming to LA? Proctor, who was overused by Torre during his time in New York as Torre lost confidence in reliever after reliever and kept on using his old reliables. Proctor likely could have had a long career as a setup man if Torre wasn’t
Esteban Loaiza (RHP) – The odd man out of the rotation mix, Loaiza was awful in his limited innings as a Dodger and now will have to accept a swingman role unless he wants out completely.
Rudy Seanez (RHP) - A retread of sorts, Seanez isn't exactly an elite reliever anymore, but as long as the Dodgers don't overexpose him, he should be a servicable reliever at best.
Starting Lineup
Rafael Furcal (SS) – Still a good shortstop with a solid bat, power and speed, Furcal is entering the last year in his deal and wants a contract extension to stay with LA. I don’t think it’ll happen, now with Hui down in Triple A ready to start, so expect Furcal to have a solid year before leaving LA to go elsewhere, giving the Dodgers some nice draft picks in the process.
Juan Pierre (LF) – Does Pierre deserve to be starting ahead of the more talented Andre Ethier? #### No. Does that mean he will? Yes, because we have seen throughout the ages that there is one common trait about Joe Torre. He always starts his veteran’s and won’t start a youngster unless he has no choice. In this case, he’ll likely start Pierre in left, where his speed should help him, but other than that, he’s got little value.
James Loney (1B) – A nifty young player that the Dodgers finally appear to be done screwing wtih, Loney has a solid bat with plenty of power potential and should be a solid middle of the order presence for years.
Andruw Jones (CF) – Last season’s down year resulted in Jones going from the top centerfielder on the market to a considerable risk. I do credit the Dodgers for getting him at two years, as if he bombs, they’ll only be on the hook for one more year, unlike Juan Pierre. Jones is still a good defensive center fielder who hits for power and shows some patience, but he also lengthens his swing as he tries to crush the ball and he’s lost a step as far as his speed goes. Still, he’s an excellent buy and should give the Dodger lineup more thunder.
Jeff Kent (2B) – Kent can still hit and he’s still a reliable power source in the middle of the order, but he has no business playing second base anymore. He really should be either at first base or a DH, but he doesn’t seem inclined to do either. Still, expect Kent to put up some serious numbers here, especially if the Dodgers finally allow Kemp and Loney to stay in everyday and not want to switch to retreads and vets with nothing left in the tank.
Matt Kemp (RF) – Kemp has all the tools to be a superstar, as he could become a power hitting right fielder in the mold of a J.D. Drew, but he’s still raw in several facets of the game. Nonetheless, these flaws will only be worked out with playing time, so the Dodgers need to play him, as he is a big part of the Dodgers’ future once some of the vets move on.
Russell Martin (C) – One of the best young catchers in the NL, Martin was probably a bit overworked last season, but his offensive performance didn't suffer much for it. Overall, I think he's a great young player that should continue to be a presence in the lineup. Also, he'd be a nice fit hitting second, but that likely won't happen.
Nomar Garciaparra (3B) –Nomar is no longer the offensive player he was and he’s too brittle for the hot corner, so I’m not sure why Torre would start him, as his power is gone and all he really is able to do is hit for a superficially high average. But, as I said, Torre won’t start kids unless he has no choice, meaning that the Dodgers will see a lot of Nomar hitting 8th.
Bench
Andre Ethier (COF) – Ethier would be a solid left fielder, but it seems that the Dodgers are determined to get as much use out of Juan Pierre's contract as possible. Plus, knowing Torre's affinity for Vets, and it's likely that Ethier will strictly be used in pinch hit duty until Pierre plays himself out of the lineup.
Andy LaRoche (CINF) – Another casualty of Joe Torre will likely be Andy LaRoche, who will be on the bench as Nomar Garciaparra is started. Still, I do give the Dodgers some credit to committing to at least carrying with the big league club. LaRoche has all the tools to be a star third baseman in the mold of Troy Glaus, though only the Dodgers
Gary Bennett (C) – A decent backup catcher with an okay bat, look at Bennett to be able to relieve Russell Martin, who was overworked last season.
Wilson Valdez (UTIL) - Strictly a gloveman with no offensive value.
Tony Abreu (UTIL) – A decent utility man, Abreu will likely backup all the middle infield positions, plus get the occasional start in the outfield. He’s not a bad hitter either and could pinch hit in necessary.
Minor League Notables
Clayton Kershaw (LHP) - The Dodgers' top prospect, Kershaw has already reached Double A at the age of 19. He's got a big fastball and slider and potentially could be a major league ace. While the Dodgers won't rush him, it's not inconcievable that Kershaw could get a big league look in the pen at the end of the season.
Chin-lung Hu (SS) - Chien Ming Wang's ex-classmate, Hu has an incredible glove and enough of a bat that he won't be a drag on the offense. He'll likely be Furcal's successor at short, though he could be called up in case of injury.
Justin Meloan (RHP) - A solid setup man, Meloan is also a potential call up should one of the relievers flame out.
Final Analysis
Overall, the Dodgers have a good squad and will be in the mix for the National League Wild Card. However, I don't feel that they'll have quite an easy run at the division or the WC thanks to the rise of the Diamondbacks and the Rockies. Overall, this squad is dependant on it's youth. If Torre decides to play the vets like Pierre and Garciaparra over more deserving talent, it will ultimately cost the Blue Crew at chance at the post-season.
Final Prediction - 2nd Place, National League West
The Red Sox Top 15 will be up later, right now I have something that just set me off that I saw on Sportscenter (had no choice, was at the Gym and it was either that or reruns of ER. And I hate ER.)
Steve Phillips was asked for his recommandations to the Dodgers on how he would make their team a World Series contender. After hearing him talk, I quickly wondered what reality he was talking about.
Here are Phillips' takes, more or less, and my own, in full unedited glory.
Step 1 – Trade for Miguel Cabrera or Sign Alex Rodriguez
First off, I will credit Phillips with correctly identifying the Dodgers' need for power in the lineup. However, this is the wrong way to go with it. If you take Phillips’ later assumptions into account, it’s going to have to be Rodriguez or nothing, as the Marlins currently are assembling a list of players that they are targeting from different organizations that they would want in return for the potential Hall of Fame hopeful. One of those is almost certainly going to be Clayton Kershaw, a young lefty that is going to be as good as Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz.
Kershaw would have to be sent back in any deal that for Cabrera, that's a given. It was Kershaw that was a sticking point in the Dodgers' failed negotiations this past summer for Mark Teixeira.
As for A-Rod, he'll cost nothing but money, but it'll be a WHOLE LOT of money.
My Solution - Why Not Settle With What you have in house? The Dodgers have a perfectly good third base prospect in Andy LaRoche, who has hit the batting line of .295/.525/.901 in the minors and has averaged 18 Homers and 61 RBIs in an average of 90 games per season. Why not give him a full season to prove that he can hit? He's a lot cheaper than Rodriguez or Cabrera and would give a power boost to the lineup as well.
And if you must get rid of LaRoche, go after a cheaper first baseman to save some money for what is about to come next. The Rangers would be happ to give up Hank Blalock straight up for LaRoche. The Pirates would be willing to give up Freddy Sanchez if it meant getting LaRoche.
The only possible way of getting Cabrera might be asking the Marlins if they'd be receptive to a deal of a paid for Juan Pierre (solving their centerfield issue), LaRoche (solving third while improving the infield defense) and including Andre Ethier and Jonathan Broxton. That woudl be the only way I could see a deal for Cabrera working, though I would prefer to just use LaRoche.
Step 2 – Sign Andruw Jones, Aaron Rowand, or Torii Hunter to play centerfield and move Juan Pierre to left
Yikes. Here's another bad idea.
Pierre is a terrible outfielder and has a weak arm as well. He's probably one of the worst contracts signed in the Ned Colletti era.
Philips said that acquriing one of the three centerfielders mentioned above would not only improve the offense, but also improve the defense as well.
Here's an idea, which would work with Philips' plan and would still have the desired effect.
Trade Pierre for whoever you can get, preferrably a reliever or a swingman to help the pen and the rotation if necessary. Second, play Etheir (provided he's not traded, of course) in left, and play Matt Kemp, a blossoming young monster, in right. If you get Andruw Jones, which would work, in center, congradulations. You just improved the outfield defense and upgraded the offense to boot.
Step 3 – Trade For Johan Santana
Ooookay, where to start.
Provided you haven't already traded Kershaw, going after Santana creates more problems than it does solve any.
First off, you would immediately open a hole in right field, as it would likely require a package of Kershaw, Kemp and LaRoche to get Santana, even if you do get him to agree to a contract extension.
Guess what, you just opened a hole in right and third base.
You could play Ethier at right, but I like his bat better in left field. And it would make the necessary the addition of a Rodriguez and a Andruw Jones in order to fill those holes, leaving you with a much more expensive roster which wasn't necessary in the first place.
The Dodgers could enter next season by making only one foray into the free agent market and that would be it:
Starting Lineup
Furcal (SS)
Martin (C)
Kent (2B)
Loney (1B)
Kemp (RF)
Jones (CF) - Brought In Via Free Agency
LaRoche (3B)
Ethier (LF)
Rotation
Penny (RHP)
Lowe (RHP)
Billingsley (RHP)
Schmidt (RHP)
Wolf (RHP) - Brought Back
Contracts Traded For Bullpen Help - Pierre (CF) to Marlins For Kevin Gregg (RHP), Nomar Garciaparra (1B) To Texas For Akinori Otsuka (RHP)
And there you have it. I'm done. That team I just put together should win 88 games, maybe 90 if the team stays healthy and the youngsters develop. There was no need to go spend foolishly on several players that may not have been worth it. That's the reason why you have a farm system. So you can eventually have young, cheaper, higher upside pieces to build around and eventually contend with.
And all without having to mortgage my best pieces in the farm and to keep the payroll more or less reasonable in the long run.
I'm beginning to understand why Phillips was tossed out so quickly by the Mets.
Why Coco Crisp is not long in Boston, why J.P. Riccardi is a horrible GM that should have been fired a long time ago, 2007 Free Agent Pitchers (Part 1 of 3) and the Royals' Rookie Closer.
Coco Not Long In Beantown
Tired of Coco Crisp yet Boston?
Don't worry. He won't be there for long.
Simply put, for two reasons:
Andruw Jones is a free agent after this season
Jacoby Ellsbury has reached Triple A
Crisp has long been seen as a stopgap for Ellsbury, who is an OBP machine in the minors and looks to be the second coming of Johnny Damon in the Red Sox system. He's a excellent centerfielder with speed, plate discipline, and insticts in the outfield. And at this point in time, there's going to be a desire to see him sooner rather than later in Crisp continues to struggle.
As for Jones, Jones was pursued by Boston last season and was almost dealt for until the Red Sox balked at the Braves' demand for Jon Lester to be included in the deal. With Jones nearing Free Agency and the Braves not likely to bring him back, he would be a excellent addition in the short term for the Red Sox, who could play him in center for one year while Ellsbury remains in Triple A for one more year. Afterward, the Red Sox would allow Manny Ramirez to leave, then promote Ellsbury to center while allowing Jones to slide over to left field, where the overall Boston Defense would improve. Jones would also serve as protection for Ortiz in the lineup, as his bat is just as potent as Ramirez'
Crisp in the meantime, would be quite attractive as a trade chip to teams needing a centerfielder and would net another prospect for the Red Sox, who need a third baseman who can succeed Mike Lowell.
It's not a trade rumor, it's simply an obersvation that bears watching.
J.P. Ricciardi - A Disaster That Walks Like A Man
Apologies to the Daily Show for the tagline, but it fits Toronto's hapless GM. For some reason or another, ownership is steadfastly standing by their GM, even though he's probably done far more harm to the organization than good, in terms of his wheeling and dealing.
Let's rewind a bit. The Blue Jays dominated the American League in the early 90's, winning the World Series in 1992 and 1993, but had to jetison most of the team because of the strike and a decline in fan base. The team worked itself back to try and rebuild itself from within, but the process cost then GM Gord Ash his job. Ricciardi, then one of Billy Beane's lieutenants in Oakland, had made a name for himself as Oakland's director of personnel and was given the job.
Since then, Ricciardi has made some severely questionable decisions, in terms of the talent brought in and given away. Here are the players Toronto has brought in that have made any sort of impact that are still on the roster:
B.J. Ryan (LHP) - The O's former closer had an All Star caliber season before his Tommy John procedure cost him his season and Ricciardi's credability.
Troy Glaus (3B) - Obtained in a trade with Arizona and probably one of the few trades where Toronto may have gotten the better deal.
Lyle Overbay (1B) - Brought in to counterbalance Glaus. A minor deal, really.
A.J. Burnett (RHP) -
And here's who's gone, by trade or by free agency:
Michael Young (SS) - Traded for Esteban Loaiza. Loaiza was average in Toronto and left via free agency. Despite his slump, he's done far better than any of the Toronto Shortstops they've fielded.
Ted Lilly (LHP) - This capable lefty wasn't shown enough love to stay with the Jays. Now he's knocking them down in Chicago.
Felipe Lopez (SS/2B) - Traded to Cincinatti, I wonder how Toronto would be fared with a infield combination of Young and Lopez instead of what they're running out right now.
Orlando Hudson (2B) - A smooth second baseman, Hudson has a decent bat that provides depth to the lineup. The DBacks send their thank yous.
Miguel Batista (RHP) - Oooh, another starting pitcher that's far better than what Toronto has right now.
Dave Bush (RHP) - Milwaukee says Thanks Again.
Carlos Delgado (1B) - A face of the franchise, Delgado was simply allowed to walk. Terrible.
Justin Speier (RHP) - A solid relief pitcher that helped cement the bullpen. He was also allowed to walk and all the Jays got was the Angels' second round draft pick.
Chris Carpenter (RHP) - Drafted by the organization and was let go. Found stardom in St. Louis.
Kelvim Escobar (RHP) - Another player allowed to leave, became a solid starter for the Angels.
Cory Lidle (RHP) - The late Corey Lidle had success in the Blue Jays and then was also allowed to leave.
Mark Hendrickson (RHP) - Traded to Tampa Bay, Hendrickson is actually a decent starter, who Toronto could use right now.
Ouch, that a lot of talent to let go, especially when you consider that many of these players would have helped Toronto compete in the short and long term and may have severely affected the race of the AL East and the American League as a whole.
But, the counterarguement is that in Oakland, the team has found ways of competeing in spite of losses of talent, for the draft pick compensation would result in high quality players that would help the big league club contribute immediately. Such a strategy would work for Toronto, right?
Not exactly.
Here's the rundown of Ricciardi's drafts, which have been focused mostly on college players, and the players that have Toronto has passed on that have become productive major leaguers. It should be noted that the two franchise cornerstone players, Vernon Wells and Roy Halladay, were not drafted by Ricciardi, but rather by the previous regime.
2002 - Russ Adams. Passed On: Scott Kazmir (Mets), Nick Swisher (Oakland), Cole Hamels (Philly), Jeff Francouer (Atlanta), Joe Blanton (Oakland), Matt Cain (Giants).
2003 - Aaron Hill. Passed On: Chad Cordero (Nationals), Brandon Wood (Angels), Chad Billingsley (Dodgers)
2004 - David Purcey, Zach Johnson. Passed On: Josh Fields (White Sox), Philip Hughes (Yankees), Eric Hurley (Rangers), Huston Street (Oakland)
2005 - Ricky Romero. Passed On: Troy Tulowitzki, Mike Pelfrey, Cameron Maybin, Andrew McCutcheon, Jacoby Ellsbury, Matt Garza,
2006 - Travis Snyder.
Of all of these drafts, the Jays have let better players fall past them in order to draft college talent that they figured would have less of a change of a bust potential. Of all of Ricciardi's drafts, only Snyder looks like he'll become anything special and allow Hamels and Cain to slip past them, along with Street, Garza and others, make Ricciardi's draft decisions look questionable at best.
Typically, it takes 5 years for it to see i####eneral Manager is working out or not for a franchise, as that is how long it takes for the talent development department for the team in order to bring up the fruits of the draft to the big league club. Toronto hasn't done that and has hemmoraged more talent away from the club than it has to brought into it. Toronto has misjudged their own free agent decisions, either by time, evaluation or money and the result has been a loss of players that the Jays had to keep around if they wanted to remain competitive. I know Toronto isn't made of money like their other AL Rivals, but there is a point in time where you need to hold onto your own homegrown players, otherwise the drain on your club can become overpowering.
2007 Free Agency - Starting Pitchers (Fours And Fives)
Continuing the look at free agency after this season, here is a look at starting pitching, namely back of the rotation starters. This market looks rather pathetic, but there are a few attractive options that could work for a team in need of a fourth starter.
Kenny Rogers (Tigers) – There’s going to be the usual health questions with Rogers, considering he’s now in his early 40’s and nearing retirement. His stuff is very much diminished and he gets by more on deception than by pure raw stuff. However, he’d be a suitable fourth starter for any team willing to pay for his services. Unless he’s totally soured on management, I can see him taking a one year deal to finish his career in Texas, where it all started.
Joe Kennedy (Athletics) – Kennedy will be hitting the free agent market at the right time. He's a left hander with decent stuff that has seen his career turn around since he left Colorado. Kennedy is off to a solid starter and a good season will net him a 3 year, $33 million deal from somebody.
Kris Benson (Orioles) – [If $7.5MM club option is declined.] I don’t expect Benson to return to the Orioles, as his tenure with Baltimore has pretty much been a disappointment all around, though to be fair, he was a relatively cheap date as far as what was given up (Jorge Julio and a John Maine that would have floundered in Baltimore). Realistically, I expect Benson to take a incentive laden one year deal in order to boost his value once again. Realistically, Benson is still young enough where he could afford to go that route and still obtain a multiple year deal afterwards, but you get the feeling that his stock has fallen so far that people regard him as one of the biggest over hyped talents in the past decade. I think he’d be a decent three in the National League, but don’t hold me to that.
Jon Lieber (Phillies) – Lieber is nearing the end of his career and is not going to be in line for a huge payday. However, a one year deal isn’t out of the question, as teams are always willing to pay for talent. Hey, Chan #### Park got an offer and he has worse stuff that Lieber does. Lieber outmaneuvers hitters rather than blowing them away and may be able to put up roughly league average numbers in the right situation. It’s not with the Phillies, so a team with a big ballpark may be the best thing for him.
Tomo Ohka (Blue Jays) – Millhouse’s favorite player will re-enter the free agent market after this year. Ohka’s not a bad pitcher, as he’s reasonably durable and gets by with a lot of deception. However, he’s a fighter and is willing to give you six innings of work unless he absolutely can’t go. He’d be a valuable fourth or fifth starter on a National League team.
Kyle Lohse (Reds) – The talking heads and pundits always talk about how Kyle Lohse has underachieved and should be a number two starter with his stuff. The fact of the matter is that he’s strictly a number four with maybe ambitions of being a three. However, he’s done fairly well since moving to the NL, so it’s possible that he may have just been a poor fit for the AL style of play. Anyhow, if he continues to do fairly well, he’ll get well compensated for it by a team seeking pitching depth, possibly with a 3 year, $30 million deal. Lohse features a fastball that clocks in the low 90’s and couples this with a slider that reaches the mid 80’s. He’s also got a serviceable changeup that he has some command over, but not enough to make it a plus pitch. The one thing Lohse does have going for him is that he’s fairly durable.
Josh Fogg (Rockies) – About the only thing that Fogg offers is that he’s able to log in innings. While there is some value to that, I’m not sure how great that serves a team when the offense is sputtering and they need a dominant pitching performance to win.
Joakim Soria – Another Rule V Pick Done Good (So Far…)
The Royals have made a move that is paying off big dividends so far.
And that is using a Rule V pick instead of just letting him gather dust, they took a chance on Soria when Octavio Dotel went down and he has delievered, posting a record of 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA and 6 saves in 7 opportunities. Soria was a former San Diego Padres prospect that went unprotected and was picked by Kansas City, who saw the need for a solid pitching prospect. So far, the result has been spectacular and it doesn't look like Soria will be headed by to the San Diego system anytime soon, if ever.
I was going to produce a long, drawn out effort in the pluses and minuses of the Rangers in April.
Instead, I’ll just be blunt.
We suck.
Possible Centerfielder’s For The Future
This is probably the deepest position on the free agent market, where there are a total of nine players that can legitimately play center.
Andruw Jones (Braves) – Jones is the sexy name on everyone’s list and it’s no wonder why. He’s a incredible hitter and plays a decent centerfield as well. Unfortunately, expect to see Jones priced out of the Rangers’ range, even though I would recommend that the Rangers make a strong run at him.
Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners) – Ichiro has stated that he would like to test the market for the first time in his career, as he has never had a chance to actually choose his own destiny. Should Suzuki choose to become Ronin, he would be a quality lineup presence in the Rangers, able to provide solid leadoff ability as well as provide solid defense in center. The only question is whether or not Suzuki is willing to play against his former team.
Torii Hunter (Twins) – Hunter looks more and more like a plausible option in that he lives in Arlington, has a good relationship with Rangers Manager Ron Washington and that he’s a premier defender that would benefit from moving from turf to grass. However, Hunter also is prone to injuries and of the players on this list is the largest risk to break down. Whoever acquires Hunter is going to be at a large risk of overpaying for him and I don’t think he’s going to age well after this year.
Kosuke Fukudome (Chunichi Dragns - Japan) – Fukudome is a five-tool centerfielder in Japan that plays for the Chunichi Dragons. He's going to be a free agent after 2007 and apparently has stated that he’s intends to come to the United States to finish his career. He was also a member of Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic and was the 2006 Central League MVP and batting champion, hitting .351-31-104. He's a career .306/.393/.545 hitter with 179 homers, 599 RBIs and 66 steals in 993 Japanese games. If I had to classify him as anything, he’s a more mobile Hideki Matsui lite. He’ll be 31 when he comes over and should be a lot of fun to watch. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Seattle allow Ichiro to leave in order to replace him in center with Fukudome as a short term fix until top prospect Adam “I’m Not Pacman” Jones is ready. Personally, Fukudone looks to be the best bet out of the lot, but again, there is no guarantee that he’s coming.
Eric Byrnes (Diamondbacks) – A personal favorite, Byrnes is a solid guy that can hit late in the lineup and has done pretty well for himself fin Arizona. With the Diamondbacks not likely to bring him back, he’d be a solid short term option for Texas until some of the kids begin to develop.
Corey Patterson (Orioles) – Of all the centerfielders on the market, Patterson is the youngest at 28, always a good thing for such an athletic position. The Orioles made a rare deal in which they came out the biggest winners last year when they traded for Patterson, giving up Jerry Hairston Jr. and a pack of cigarettes. Patterson is a Scott Boras client, which the Orioles have had trouble dealing with in the past. Plus, people are going to wonder if Patterson is a one-year wonder, which is why they Orioles have said they’ll address his situation after the season. With Patterson entering his last season, the Orioles are in a quirky position. If the Orioles wait and Patterson against boats a decent average with some power and some flashly defensive plays (a la Gary Matthews Jr. last year.), Boras will almost certainly price him out of their range, as I firmly believe that Patterson will get a Matthews-like contract at the end of the season.
Milton Bradley (Athletics) – Bradley is an intriguing option in that he’s still pretty young, athletic and can be productive as a centerfielder. He’s also a headcase and not a sure bet to stay healthy for much of the year.
Aaron Rowand (Phillies) – Rowand’s style of play reminds many fans of former Ranger Rusty Greer. Unfortunately, that also means he may be in for a Greer style breakdown, which doesn’t do you any good long term.
Mike Cameron (Padres) – I thought that there would be a chance that Cameron would stay with the Padres, but unfortunately, it looks as if Cameron will be moving on from San Diego after this season. Cameron wants a three year deal, which the Padres were unwilling to do, and will now hit the market at the age of 35. PETCOA has Cameron being worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $21 million from 2008 too 2010. He’s likely going to want 3 years, $30 million, which isn’t too unreasonable.
Kenny Lofton (Rangers) – Lofton still looks pretty good for the most part as far as his play, but he’s really not going to be much of a factor as far as a impact player. Texas signed him in order to give them a stopgap in center until the next year. If he’s willing to accept a backup role, there’s no reason to believe he can’t be a good one.
Ranger Notes
A surprising bit of news here. Bruce Chen cleared waivers and has accepted a assignment to Triple A Oklahoma. The Rangers had thought that Chen would be claimed and talked to a number of teams about a trade, including the New York Yankees.
Edinson Volquez is not making things easier for himself. Though he was excellent in his third start, Volquez in his fourth start had just one hit in five-plus innings and eight groundouts, but permitting three runs as he issued five walks and unleashed two wild pitches before being ejected by the home plate umpire about arguing the strike zone. The Rangers had hoped that Volquez would be able to last five starts in High A Bakersfield, where he would hopefully find his command, and then gradually work his way up, but Volquez has been very wild and may dash those plans for now.
C.J. Wilson continues to draw interest from the Tigers, who want a solid lefty reliever for their bullpen. I would trade C.J. in the right deal, but it would have to involve a pitching prospect that’s got a shot at being a starter.
After a much needed day off, it's back to the previews.
Let's see where the Hat wants to go today...
It's back to the National League for everyone.
Atlanta Braves
The Bravos finally fell from grace last season as the neglect of the bullpen, plus the combustion of the starting rotation, cost them the chance to extend their dominance over the National League East for another year. However, the team isn’t hopeless, as there are some promising acquisitions by John Schurholz, plus players that stepped up as the season went downhill, that could result in a Braves team that could surpass expectations.
Starting Rotation
John Smoltz (RHP) – The resident ace is back for another go around with the Braves, as they wisely picked up his affordable option to keep him in Atlanta. Smoltz is older now and he’s lost a bit of his edge as far as his stuff goes, but he is still very much a dominant pitcher, even at the age of 39. Smoltz will head up the rotation once again and should rack up about 15 wins or so, depending on the bullpen.
Tim Hudson (RHP) – Hudson was brutal last season, as lefties murdered him throughout the year. Despite a winning record, Hudson hasn’t been the ace that he was back when he was with Oakland. He should be a solid starter again, raking up wins in the double digits and at ERA in the low 4’s, but this isn’t what the Braves signed up for when they traded for him back in 2005.
Mike Hampton (LHP) – Hampton hasn’t lived up to the gaudy contract given to him by the Rockies, but he hasn’t been bat either for the Braves. He missed last season thanks to Tommy John surgery, but reports are promising that he can at least contribute to the Braves this season as a middle of the rotation guy.
Chuck James (LHP) – James was electric when he moved from the pen to the rotation, going 11-4 with a 3.93 ERA after the move. With a full season now available, James should give the Braves some solid production as the number four guy.
Oscar Villareal (RHP) – Villareal was effective in four starts last season and deserves a shot to be a starter. If he should falter, well, the Braves have got Kyle Davies to fall back on, though he shouldn’t be a liability as the fifth starter. However, Villareal might not be long in Atlanta, as they view him as expendable.
Bullpen
Bob Wickman (Closer) – Wickman lead the American League with 45 saves in 2005 and posted a 1.04 ERA in 26 innings after being traded to the Braves last season. He’s averaged 30 saves over the past three seasons. However, he is 37 and showed signs of vulnerability last season. Wickman has been able to last this long because of the movement that he gets on his sinker and slider, though he was far more hittable in Cleveland, where he had a 4.18 ERA. I don’t know. It’s tough to project how long Wickman will last. Pitchers tend to age more gracefully in the NL, where the DH is non-existent. I think he’ll be solid, but unspectacular, this year.
Mike Gonzalez (Setup Man) – Atlanta also wanted a setup man that could spot close if necessary, so they pulled the trigger on the deal that sent lefty Mike Gonzalez to them in exchange for Adam LaRoche. Gonzalez adds depth to the Atlanta pen and is actually a better option to close than Wickman, as Gonzalez has a far better fastball and slider than he does. The only problem is health, but the only way to prove that a reliever is durable is to toss him out there and see what happens.
Rafael Soriano (RHP) – Soriano, when healthy, is a dominant reliever. In 2006 he posted a 2.25 ERA in 60 innings. He was also sidelined at one point with shoulder soreness. His season was cut short last year when he was struck by a line drive in the head in late August. Soriano is viewed as a closer in waiting, thanks to his mid-90’s fastball and hard slider, but again, bad luck seems to follow him whenever he gets a crack at the job. Though Gonzalez is the setup man, Soriano will provide great 7th inning relief for the Braves and should provide a spirited challenge for Gonzalez next season when the role of closer is up for grabs.
Kyle Davies (RHP) – An terribly inconsistent pitcher, Davies will likely be moved into the bullpen in order to allow Oscar Villareal a chance to be the starter. Davies could get an opportunity if one of the starters gets hurt or if Villareal flames out, but I do think that Davies meeds some time to work out some kinks in his performance before he starts again.
Joey Devine (RHP) – I think the Braves rushed Devine to the majors and he paid heavy for it every since. However, during his September callup, Devine showed that dominance that made him a First Round pick, racking up a ERA of zero over 8 appearances. Devine will likely make the big club, but he’s no longer viewed now as the closer of the future.
Macay McBride (LHP) – A solid lefty reliever that can last an inning only, but he’s also not a lefty specialist, as he can strikeout both right and left handed bats.
Chad Paronto (RHP) – This right hander finally returned to the majors this year and was solid. He completes the bullpen.
Projected Lineup
Edgar Renteria (SS) – With the lack of a leadoff hitter, Renteria will probably fill that role for the Braves. Renteria experienced a rebirth upon returning to the national league, returning to All-Star form an improving his fielding, committing less errors than he did in Boston (possibly due to the fact he didn’t have those crazy fans after his head.) He has lost some of the range that he had back in his Cardinal days, but he’s serviceable enough to where his defense doesn’t kill you. With two years left on a deal mostly paid for by the Red Sox, Renteria should stay in Atlanta for the remaining two years left, in order to give the kids a chance to grow.
Kelly Johnson (2B) – The writing for Marcus Giles may have been on the wall as soon as last May, as the Braves asked Johnson to begin learning second base before he underwent TJ. Johnson is athletic, having been a shortstop, and has decent range for the position. The question is whether or not he’ll be able to hit. He’s got decent plate discipline, and the Braves envision him on being their leadoff man. I’d hold off on that until Johnson proves himself.
Chipper Jones (3B) – With LaRoche gone, the onus is now on Jones and, well, Jones to help power the lineup. Chipper is still very powerful and can be a threat in the lineup, but injuries are beginning to take their toll, as he missed time last season. He should be good for another .300/25 HR/110 RBI season. He should also be good for another 15 games on the DL.
Andruw Jones (CF) – Likely Jones’ last season with the Braves, due to free agency and the increasing payroll restrictions on the club. Jones still brings a solid presence in center, despite the questions about his conditioning and his decreasing range, but that bat is still potent and dangerous in the middle of this Braves lineup. The strikeouts will always be a problem, but Jones will continue to be a run producer for years to come.
Brian McCann (C) – With LaRoche gone, McCann moves into the role of run producer. He overachieved last year with the batting average, as he never hit above .290 in the minors. Still, it could be because the guy is still young and he’s still developing as a hitter (it happens.) It’s more likely he’ll hit .290 with 20 or so homers and 100 RBI’s, depending on his lineup spot. That’s still solid in any case and is more nitpicking on my part. The biggest critique of McCann is his lack of an arm. He threw out a Mike Piazza-esque 22% of baserunners last season. Keep in mind he’s still quite young and needs time to grow, but to continue the Piazza comparisons, he was never really at throwing out runners and it never improved as he got older.
Jeff Francouer (RF) – Francouer put up another strong season, playing big as a defender and hitting for powering, hitting 29 dingers and driving in 103. The biggest criticism is that Francouer has poor plate discipline and as a results racks up several strikeouts. However, he seems to be getting a little more patient and he hits well in the clutch. His athleticism has also lead to the belief that he might be able to handle centerfield.
Ryan Langerhans (LF) – It appears that Langerhans will be the starting left fielder, though Craig Wilson will see some time against left handed pitchers. Langerhans was rather disappointing last season, with a drop in batting average and power being the most noticeable differences. Still, he’s solid defensively and with regular playing time, he could again be a solid option in the back of the lineup.
Scott Thorman (1B) – The Braves really aren’t completely confident in Thorman's ability to serve as their starting first baseman, as seen by the signing of Craig Wilson. Thorman doesn’t’ have the punch needed to keep the position and may only be keeping the spot warm for Jared Saltalamacchia.
Bench
Brayan Pena (C) – An okay catcher, Pena will likely continue to warm the bench unless injury (always a possibility with a catcher) crops up. Pena is exactly what you want in a backup. A decent defender whose bat won’t kill you.
Craig Wilson (1B/OF) – Wilson will platoon at first base with Scott Thorton, who will be replacing the departed Andy LaRoche. Wilson has great righthanded power, but gets murdered by lefties.
Willy Aybar (IF) – Aybar has a solid glove and hits relatively well enough that he wont’ be the death of you if he has to fill in for a extended period of time.
Chris Woodward (UTIL) – Woodward’s value is that he can play almost the entire infield, plus the outfield corners. The bat is another story.
Matt Diaz (LF/RF) – A total unknown so far, but he looks like he’ll make the team. He could be a bust. Could be a valuable bat off the bench.
Farm System
The Braves do have some talent in the low minors, but for now, the system lacks talent that can help out now, as the 2005 promotions cleaned out much of the talent from the upper levels. True, it’s possible some of the arms may surprise, but these are some of the few prospects that the Braves can work with in the meantime.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C) – Salty, as he’ll be called here (as I don’t want to spell that name again) is a solid hitter who experienced a series of injuries last season that kept him from producing as he did in 2005. With some time to recover, Salty is primed for a rebound year. The only question is whether or not he’ll remain as a catcher. Salty’s name was tossed about in trade proposals this past off-season. It’s more likely that Salty will be converted to first base this year, since LaRoche is gone and since Salty’s injury troubles make it more sensible to keep him in a less stressful position.
Brent Lillibridge (SS) – Lillibridge was the prospect acquired in the deal that sent Mike Gonzalez to the Braves. He’s a very good defender with great range, hands and is on target when he makes the throw. He’s got a high walk rate, a solid bat that can hit for average and for some good doubles power and is a huge threat on the bases. He projects very similar to Rafael Furcal and if he continues to improve, he’ll make the big club as soon as next year, allowing the Braves to slide Renteria over to second.
Matt Harrison (LHP) – Harrison is tall and has power stuff, as his fastball sits in the mid 90’s and he’s got a plus curve and changeup. Harrison still need some work, but he could be a factor late in the season.
In Conclusion
The Braves are better, this season, as the offense is mostly there and the bullpen and rotation are much improved. But, with the Mets’ strong lineup and bullpen, plus the much improved Phillies, who should compete for a Wild Card spot, I think the highest the Braves will finished is in third.
In a move that surprised many, Andruw Jones, the superstar center fielder for the Atlanta Braves, was placed on waivers.
To the surprise of no one, he's been claimed.
According to waiver wire trade rules, the order of claiming teams goes in this order:
First, the teams that get first dibs are those within the league. Second, the teams are placed in order of record. As a result, once a player is claimed, the Braves have 48 hours to trade him to the claiming team or withdraw him from waivers.
Will a deal be done? I'm not sure. The Braves seem adament to move him before he gains 10-5 rights, allowing him to veto any deal. But with the Braves still somewhat alive in the Wild Card race (4 1/2 Back), trading Jones would take a flamethrower to their playoff hopes. But, with the farm system lacking impact players that can help the Braves, they may be seeking a Milwaukee Brewers' style trade that nets them talent that can help them immediately. Plus, it's becoming increasingly evident that the Braves may not be able to re-sign him and will only recieve a pair of draft picks. This may just be another case of selling on a player while his value is high.
Looking at the Wild Card for both leagues, here's who may have made the claim, according to the numerous rumors flying around.
Houston Astros (51-57) - Third in the division and 4 1/2 back, Houston would be first in line if they made a claim. Houston would likely deal CF Willy Taveras, 2B Chris Burke, RHP Brad Lidge and RHP Fernando Nieve. The Astros will do what their cross-state rivals the Texas Rangers did and move Major League ready talent while protecting the farm system. Still, the loss of Chris Burke makes this deal a hard one to ####. Second, Jones' high payroll hit could complicate things. Still the Astros could afford any hit next year considering that they'll have loads of money coming off the books. Plus, if anyone can help energize that offense, it's Jones.
Florida Marlins (51-57) - Yes, the Marlins could concievably make a claim on Jones, believe it or not. The Marlins are in the Wild Card race and attitudes are beginning to change around the Marlins front office and clubhouse that the team could concievably make a run at the Wild Card and return to the playoffs for the first time in three years. The Marlins have an embarressment of talent in their farm system and that was BEFORE they blew up the team last year. The Marlisn could part with some talent in Triple A to swing a deal for Jones, who would be the last piece of the puzzle the Marlins would need to leapfrong the other teams in order to take the division.
San Francisco Giants (52-55) - The Giants are in a very winnable division, so much so that the addition of a powerhouse like Jones would be enough to swing the division in their favor. Unfortunately for the Giants, the entire team is aging to the point where many of the players would not be effective for the Braves to even trade for. The farm system is even worse, lacking impact players thanks to poor drafts and the lack of high draft picks after years of signing free agents.
Los Angeles Dodgers (53-55) - The Dodgers could make a move for Jones if they feel that Kenny Lofton would kill their playoff hopes in a close division. The Dodgers have got the prospects to swing a trade for Jones that would please the Braves, but I'm not sure if the Dodgers are ready to part with some more of their top talent, particularly since some of them are expected to be in the Chavez Ravine as soon as next year. But again, combining Jones with the offensive punch of J.D. Drew
Chicago White Sox (63-43) - The White Sox would love to add Jones to the roster in order to keep Brian Anderson's bat off the field. Atlanta would want a package centering around young pitcher Brandon McCarthy and possibly Anderson returning to the Braves as well. But the White Sox seem reluctant to give away any more of their talent and with Chris Young now a Diamondback, the White Sox would be better standing pat.
Boston Red Sox (64-43) - The Red Sox had tried to trade for Jones from before the deadline, but were unwilling to give the Braves rookie LHP Jon Lester, even though they were willing to give up closer of the future RHP Craig Hansen. The Red Sox are the last team on the totem pole that could move to acquire Jones and they have talent to spare. Unfortunately, they would have to pay a pretty penny in order to get him.
This column was originally supposed to have been posted yesterday.I figured, hey, it’s the Fourth and I’ll have time.
Instead, I got monumentally drunk.
With that episode behind mere, here is the column.
Even with a great many teams remaining in contention, the fact of the matter remains that some guys are out of the race withno chance of getting back in.And many of these teams have players that could be valuable for a team in need of one more player to push them over the hump and into the playoffs.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the teams across baseball that can help your team.
Baltimore Orioles
Back in the basement, the Birds are paying the price for neglecting their farm system and for their owner’s reluctance to spend any money.With a team that is largely laughed at and being used to pad opponents’ win schedules, the Orioles need to patch the wholes in their ship and get things back on track.
Untradable
Kevin Millar – The Red Sox were justified for getting rid of the poo-slinging, under productive Millar.He isn’t much better this year, hitting .242 with 6 homers and 32 RBI’s.
Bruce Chen – Chen had a great year last year, but has been terrible this year.The O’s are trying to figure out what’s up, but the fact is that he’s been awful.He had some trade value during the winter.That’s all up in smoke now.
Untouchable
Melvin Mora – Was just re-signed.
Ramon Hernandez – Still under contract.
Chris Ray – Could become the next BJ Ryan.
Corey Patterson – A steal for the Birds, is their centerfielder for the next few years.
Ramon Hernandez – Still under contract.
Chris Ray – Could become the next BJ Ryan.
Brian Roberts – Still under the Orioles’ control for next year.
LaTroy Hawkins, Todd Williams, and Kurt Birkins – This is the makings of a All-Star bullpen right here and the O’s shouldn’t blow it up.
Tradable
Miguel Tejada – The Orioles have been trying to find a way of moving Tejada for a while now. However, because Tejada has lost range, teams are interested in him as a third baseman or a DH. While Tejada will likely balk at being moved, he must realize that he must be accomodating if he is to return to the playoffs. Tejada should bring in several good prospects for the Orioles.Ideal Fit – Los Angeles Angels (Third Base/DH).
Javy Lopez – Lopez has proven that he can still hit, even if he can no longer play catcher consistently.And while he shouldn’t be anywhere near a catcher’s mitt if he gets traded, he can help out a team in need of a DH.Ideal Fit – Seattle Mariners.
Kris Benson – Benson is another luxury that the Orioles don’t need at the moment.An innings eater, Benson’s ERA is skewed by a terrible May.Still, he’s a fairly good pitcher and would add depth to a team needing help.His price would be a pitching prospect and a decent position player.Ideal Fit – New York Mets (Ironically), Texas Rangers (Anna In Texas.Woot!), San Francisco Giants.
Final Notes
The Devil Rays are keeping as many of their youngsters together as possible to build for a run in a couple of years.If they can unload Lugo and Huff for something good, the D-Rays should gain some more pieces to the future.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
They’re not likely to make the playoffs, but they are a team on the rise.And with all the extra outfielders and such, they could be a big trade deadline dealer to contenders.
Untradable
Pretty Much No One
Untouchable
Rocco Baldelli – Stud outfielder.
Carl Crawford – Fantastic player.
Scott Kazmir – Need I say more.
Delmon Young – Mildly crazy, but will still become a very good rightfielder.
Johnny Gomes – Has gone from outfielder to great DH.
Tradable
Julio Lugo – The Devil Rays have made it no secret that they want to unload Lugo before he walks.The problem is getting a fair deal.While Lugo is vastly overrated as a shortstop, he’d be a decent second baseman and his offensive numbers could be enough to entice a team in need of a second baseman for the stretch.Ideal Fit – New York Mets, Boston Red Sox (at Short), Houston Astros (At Short).
Aubrey Huff – Huff started badly, but has since regained his form from last year.Huff could latch on to a contender as a third baseman, outfielder, or Designated Hitter.Ideal Fit – Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros (OF), New York Yankees (OF).
Final Notes
The Devil Rays are keeping as many of their youngsters together as possible to build for a run in a couple of years.If they can unload Lugo and Huff for something good, the D-Rays should gain some more pieces to the future.
Cleveland Indians
Many expected the Indians to seriously challenge the White Sox for the division, if not make the Wild Card.Instead, the Indians are undergoing a setback this year and with the emergence of the Tigers and the revival of the Twins, the Indians would be better off selling off some of their parts in order to make a run in the future.
Untradable
Guillermo Mota – Mota has fallen fast in the past two years.He’s a liability in the pen and it’s likely that he’ll remain on the Indians until the end of the year or so.
Aaron Boone – Really not good enough to be an everyday player.However, it’s likely he remains on the Indians until the end of the year.But he’ll always have 2003.
Untouchable
Travis Hafner – Offensive juggernaut.
Ron Belliard – Good player.
Grady Sizemore – Centerfielders are in demand all around the league.
C.C. Sabathia – Duh.
Ben Broussard – One of the better first basemen in the league.
Tradable
Bob Wickman – Wickman has been an adventure in the 9th inning, blowing four of his saves for losses.He’s getting up there in age and with the Indians stressing the need for a younger team, Wickman could be dealt to a team needing middle relief or a setup man.Ideal Fit – Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jake Westbrook – Oddly enough, Westbrook’s name has been mentioned, mostly because he’s due to become a free agent after 2007.Westbrook is a quality innings eater and could help out a team in need of pitching depth.However, he’ll likely cost a team a high blue chip prospect.Ideal Fit – Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds .
Final Notes
Not much else to say about the Indians except that it’s been a disappointing season in Cleveland.At least the Browns look like they’ll be okay this year.
Kansas City Royals
Ah, the Royals.Eternally terrible, it seems.While there is optimism about Dayton Moore taking the reigns of this wildly off-course ship, the former Royals administration didn’t exactly leave him much to build upon.Thus, the Royals should use this season to check out their youngsters that are available at Triple A while shipping their few marketable commodities in trades to help deepen the system.
Untradable
Everyone…just kidding!!!Mike Sweeney – For starters, Sweeney is a shadow of what he once was.A promising hitter early in his career, it has since been derailed by injury and a balky back.However, even if Sweeney was even close to being productive, his huge contract makes it impossible to trade him.
Untouchable
David DeJesus – The stud of the lineup.
Mark Teahen – Has the makings of a steady third baseman.
Zack Grienke – Still can be a good middle of the rotation guy.
Joey Gathright – Was just acquired.
Tradable
Doug Mientkiewicz – Mientkiewicz is having a great year this year, hitting .278 with 4 homers and 35 RBI’s (Trying To Be Positive!)While he won’t be an immediate threat in the lineup, he could add some depth in the back of the lineup, allowing a team to further deepen their lineup while adding a quality glove at the hot corner.Ideal Fit – New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants.
Mark Grudzielanek– The man who should have been KC’s All-Star, Grud’s still got something left.Not only is he still fairly productive at the plate, but he’s been perfect in the field.He could be had for very little and would help a contender in need of a steady glove at second that packs a punch.Ideal Fit – Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals.
Reggie Sanders – A veteran of the post-season races, Sanders has played in three World Series and has been in the playoffs 5 times in the past six years.While his experience would help, he’s no longer the power threat he once was.However, he’s very useful in a platoon situation against lefty pitching and can play the outfield well enough were he wouldn’t kill the defense.However, his large contract makes it hard to make the move.Ideal Fit – Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals.
Final Notes
The Royals are the Royals.However, if Moore plays his cards right, he should be able to do all right.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
No team has been a bigger disappointment than the Angels, who were a trendy pick to win the AL West this year.They’ve instead become the newest prison #### (no offense to prison ####es out there) to join the Royals and the Devil Rays (though it must be said that the Devil Rays are an entertaining team to watch.)And while Artie Moreno and Bill Stoneman are trying like hell to get back into the race, they’re already too far behind to recover.Instead, the Angels should try and rebuild their team with their farm system and spend the rest of the year tossing prospects against the wall and seeing what sticks an
Houston Astros (51-57) - Third in the division and 4 1/2 back, Houston would be first in line if they made a claim. Houston would likely deal CF Willy Taveras, 2B Chris Burke, RHP Brad Lidge and RHP Fernando Nieve. The Astros will do what their cross-state rivals the Texas Rangers did and move Major League ready talent while protecting the farm system. Still, the loss of Chris Burke makes this deal a hard one to 
Boston Red Sox (64-43) - The Red Sox had tried to trade for Jones from before the deadline, but were unwilling to give the Braves rookie LHP Jon Lester, even though they were willing to give up closer of the future RHP Craig Hansen. The Red Sox are the last team on the totem pole that could move to acquire Jones and they have talent to spare. Unfortunately, they would have to pay a pretty penny in order to get him.