Then I got the dreaded WHOOPS sign, just after I had posted and deleted my file.
So anyhow, I retyped the whole thing, only to see that the system had indeed saved some of the data.
Ugh.
I’m giving serious consideration to leaving FoxBlogs and trying to hook on with RealSportsBloggers or go independent
New York Mets - Team Preview
The Mets have had their offseason dominated by one subject.
Lastings Milledge.
Okay just kidding.
Seriously, the Santana deal was an absolute coup for the Mets, who add the ace they’ve sorely needed for pocket change and upside. However, the Milledge deal hurt the Mets badly, as it saw the exodus of talent in exchange of overpaid vets that really had no business starting for any team, and yet are going to be counted on to be a big part of the Mets’ title hopes.
Starting Rotation
Johan Santana (LHP) - Credit Omar Minaya for this, he was able to exploit a volitile situation and was able to bring in the best pitcher in the league. Santana is flat out dominant and has proven to be a horse in the past few years. While he does remain homer prone, he is moving to the National League and will have a excellent defense and lots of pitchers parks to play in. He's also likely going to be the defacto Cy Young award winner for the next four years or so.
Pedro Martinez (RHP) - Pedro looked like the Pedro of Old when he came back last year, showing that he could be dominant even without his old fastball. The arrival of Santana pushes Pedro down to the Number Two slot, where he'll still be depended on, but not to be an ace and stopper as much.
John Maine (RHP) - Maine is continuing to establish himself as a very good middle of the rotation option, though he did tire in the second half of last year. Because Maine has missed time due to injury before, I'll chalk it up as simply fatigue, with the hope that it is just a part of the learning curve.
Oliver Perez (LHP) - Talented, but inconsistent, Perez enters his walk year ready to cash in. Perez has greatly benefited from moving to the Mets and he certainly has the stuff to be a top of the rotation starter, but he's just so damn inconsistent.
Orlando Hernandez (RHP) - I'm not sure what exactly Hernandez has left, but he's a decent option here as the fifth starter. Don't expect him to make 30 starts this year, though.
Bullpen
Billy Wagner (Closer) – Wagner still is a solid closer, though he did experience some dead arm last season. If the Mets pen is able to be solid, perhaps the Mets could limit Wagner’s aging arm and give Heilman some opportunities, if only to save their best reliever for October.
Aaron Heilman (Setup Man) – Heilman has found his nitch as a setup man, though a rough start did cause him to lose some of his luster. Still, quality setup men are a commodity and the Mets have a good one here.
Duaner Sanchez (RHP) – If the Mets pen is to rebound, they sorely need Sanchez to return to the form he flashed after they acquired him from the Pirates. If his numerous injury troubles are behind him, Sanchez could lighten the load on both Heilman and Wagner.
Scott Schowenweis (LHP) – A impressive twelve game stretch with the Reds got Schowenweis a big payday from the Mets. Now, he’s likely going to be limited to mop up duty.
Matt Wise (RHP) – A shrewd move by Minaya, Wise is a good middle reliever that was cut by the Brewers for some unknown reason. He should be able to give them some innings, especially in a bad El Duque start.
Jorge Sosa (RHP) – Sosa was a adequate swingman last season for New York and will contribute out of the pen this season, serving as a shadow for certain starters and as a spot starter/long man.
Pedro Feliciano (LHP) - Not bad as a lefty reliever, Feliciano completes the bullpen puzzle here.
Starting Lineup
Jose Reyes (SS) – Despite the batting average, Reyes has improved a lot from last season. He improved in almost every facet of his game and should continue being one of the premier leadoff men in baseball.
Luis Castillo (2B) - Castillo's deal is kinda confusing. He's clearly a player in decline and will likely be terrible the last two years of his contract as his speed continues to evaporate. He's still a capable defender, however, though his range is declining slowly. Anyhow, the Mets are considering the near future when it comes to Castillo, so this deal will be okay for the first two years, but almost horrible the last two.
Carlos Delgado (1B) - Delgado wasn't the force last season that he was in 2006, and though he says that the year shouldn't be held against him, it might be a sign of things to come. Delgado is going to be 36 in June and will likely continue to decline, meaning don't expect to see power numbers close to .500 again. The Mets will ride out the year, hope that Delgado may have enough left for one last ride before moving on to the next option, likely Mark Teixeira of the Braves.
Carlos Beltran (CF) - The best centerfielder in baseball, hands down, Beltran should continue to be a force with his blend of speed and power in the heart of the lineup.
David Wright (3B) - A flat out star, Wright is one of the best young third basemen in the game. He can hit for power, is starting to improve on his walk total, while flashing a great glove and even some speed. The lone flaw are the high strikeout totals. Still, that’s only a minor quibble, as Wright could play on any team, save the Yankees (who have Alex Rodriguez).
Moises Alou (LF) - Alou still has a lot of thunder in his bat, but he's also not able to play everyday. Still, he is a bargain and will be worth the millions he's getting paid to crush the ball.
Ryan Church (RF) - Church has some decent pop off of him, but he's very much mortal against lefties and likely won't sustain over the long hall. He's a better bet to produce instead of Shawn Green, but Lastings Milledge should be a better player than Church over the next four years.
Brian Schneider (C) – The other part of the “bounty” from the Lastings Milledge trade, Schneider is not a starting catcher. He’s awful on offense, he’s fallen apart defensively and really should be a backup, not a starter. While he will be splitting time with Ramon Castro, the Mets were probably better off just keeping Johnny Estrada for the year and going after Kenji Johjima as a free agent. Or, better yet, trade for a young catcher with Milledge as the bait instead.
Bench
Ramon Castro (C) - Castro has solid power as a catcher, but he has had problems making contact. He's a solid reciever though and overall is a good backup to have. He'll likely see an increase in playing time this year, as Schnieder is..well...awful.
Ruben Gotay (INF) - Gotay has seemingly found use as a utilityman, though he’s stretched as a starter.
Damion Easley (UTIL) - Still has use as a lefty killer, Easley will probably platoon with Church in right field.
Endy Chavez (OF) – A decent fourth outfielder, Chavez has speed and is able to hit for an empty batting average. Though it’s not recommended, Chavez may see a lot of time as a starter this season, which isn’t out of the question considering some of the age in the lineup.
Angel Pagan (OF) – Not sure why the Mets would bring in Pagan, who is much like Chavez except cheaper. Regardless, this is likely a move to ensure that in the event that Chavez is pressed into emergency starting duty, not unlikely considering the health and brittleness of Alou and Church, that they would be okay with a backup backup outfielder in the fold.
Minor League Notables
Joe Smith (RHP) - A decent setup man, Smith could very well make the team out of Spring Training with a solid campaign.
Eddie Kunz (RHP) - Oregon State's closer has a cannon of an arm, but his control is just so inconsistent that he might not be able to rise as quickly as other college closers. Will that stop the Mets if they need an arm? Not likely.
Mike Pelfrey (RHP) - Pelfrey remains the best arm in the Mets' system, but his struggles at the major league level are starting to worry me. He seems to have regressed, possibly because the Mets have rushed him, and partially because he is listening to Boras' coaches more than his team's. This is likely a make or break year for him this year, as if he fails once more, he's likely going to be moved to the pen.
Fernando Martinez (CF)– The Mets’ top prospect, Martinez has already been rushed through the system. He’s got superstar potential, but the problem is that he’s just so raw. He’s at least two years away. Unfortunately, should the Mets suddenly have their outfield drop like flies once again, you just know they’ll rush Martinez.
Final Analysis
The rotation alone is enough to almost guarnatee the Mets the division this year, but this team isn't without it's flaws. Much of the rotation is a health risk, as is much of the lineup and the bench is rather thin. I'm picking the Mets to win right now, but this team is one injury away from the Wild Card and Third Place.
Final Prediction - Division Winner, National League East
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, the national nightmare is over, as it looks like the Twins will trade Johan Santana to the Mets.
But what did they get?
As seen in my last post, Santana Circle Jerk, the Twins in essence are gambling on the upside of Carlos Gomez and Delois Guerra instead of the certainty of a Jon Lester, a Phil Hughes or a Jed Lowrie.
Guerra and Gomez could blossom into superstars. But both have massive flaws. Guerra has been pushed hard by the Mets, but is still young and has some projection. He also has trouble getting out of the high 80's on his fastball, which means the Twins are hoping he'll add velocity as he matures.
As for Gomez, he too has been rushed and needs at least another year and a half of minor league play if he's to live up to his high potential.
And really, its on Guerra and Gomez that the Twins are pinning their hopes and dreams on, as Phil Humber and Kevin Mulvey are both decent arms, but not aces and don't differ much from the Scott Baker type pitchers the Twins already have in their system.
Really, as I've stated earlier, the Twins could have had a better offer from the Red Sox (Lowrie, Lester, Crisp and likely Justin Masterson) or the Yankees (Hughes, Melky Cabrera and change.)
But I think that there is another reason why the Twins agreed to this swap.
When something of ours disappears, we as people try to replace it as closely as we can.
And in Guerra and Gomez, the Twins are trying to replace Torii Hunter and Johan Santana as best they could, by trying to find similar players that could become their second comings.
It's a human reaction, albet a flawed one.
It's possible that in three years, both Guerra and Gomez could be superstars, making the Twins look wise in their deal.
It's also just as possible that both are massive busts.
I credit Omar Minaya on this deal, as he was able to get the best pitcher in baseball without giving up his best prospect, centerfielder Fernando Martinez, who also is a rushed, but promising young player. He gave up nothing that he'll really miss and no one that isn't replaceable, as the Mets could easily go out to the Dominican and sign any remaining young prospects that haven't signed with teams to help replenish the farm.
I would feel pity for the Twins, but really, this is a mess of their own making. They're choosing the riskier, but more lucrative path of gambling on the upside of some risky prospects. It's the equivalent of playing Russian Roulette with three of the cylinders loaded for a fortune. The payoff is huge. So is the failure...
Since I've still getting emails about why certain farm systems weren't reviewed (you didn't review this system, you ignored this prospect, you suck you Yankee/Red Sox hater, etc), I figured, what the hell, let me just start a regular feature.
Introducing The Prospect Six Pack, where I'll pick six random prospects and post up the mini scouting reports, semi-inspired by Kevin Goldstein. Enjoy.
Prospect Six Pack
Carlos Gomez (CF) – Mets
DOB: 12/4/85
Signed: 2002, Dominican Republic
2008 Club: Birmingham Mets (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/170
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Gomez has been aggressively promoted by the Mets for quite some time, but when Lastings Milledge, Moises Alou and Shawn Green all got hurt around the same time, the Mets were forced to call up Gomez and put him into service. The result was predictable, as Gomez was undisciplined, raw and clearly not ready.
The Good: Part of the reason why Milledge was dealt was because the Mets feel that ultimately, Gomez will be better. He’s a great athlete with remarkable speed, a solid defender, and good power potential.
The Bad: As I said, Gomez was rushed and the result was poor plate disciplined, power potential that is undeveloped and some rawness in the field as well. The Mets need to have him in the minors, as he shouldn’t be on a major league bench.
Projection: Average. Gomez really had no business playing in the majors last year and the Mets gambled on him not getting his development stagnated by promoting him. That said, he could still be a quality prospect if the Mets don’t do anything stupid.
What He Can Be: An above average centerfielder with an exciting speed and power combination.
2008 Course Of Action: Gomez will likely be back in Double A, where regular playing time against appropriate competition should help him continue his development process. I’m hoping the Mets don’t pull a stunt like they did last year again.
Rick Porcello (RHP) – Tigers
DOB: 12/27/88
Drafted: 1st Round, 2007, New Jersey High School
2008 Club: West Michigan Whitecaps (Low A)
Height/Weight: 6-5/195
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Regarded to be the best prep pitcher since Josh Beckett, Porcello certainly looked it at times during his senior year at Seton Hall Prep and was reportedly considered by the Royals at two. However, what happened was that Porcello’s advisor, Scott Boras, demanded Beckett’s contract, which was a 4 year Major League Deal, plus a bonus adjusted for inflation. The result was that Porcello fell until the Tigers picked at 27, where they took the chance on him and gave him what Boras wanted, drawing the ire of Major League Baseball in return.
The Good: Porcello was described to be the best prep prospect in the class and has drawn Josh Beckett like comparisons. He throws a fastball that sits around 94-95 mph and hits 96, all with good movement on both his two and four seamer. He throws a curve in the low 70’s and a slider that sits at around 80. Finishing it all is his changeup, which is already a plus pitch and complements his curve well. All in all, that’s a hell of an arsenal, especially when you consider that most high school prospects only have two pitches when drafted.
The Bad: Porcello's command and control have been inconsistent. Many also wonder about his durability, as he hasn’t pitched as much because of the weather in the Northeast. The final flag is that because of his deal, Porcello has four years to develop and get to the Majors, whether he is ready or not.
Projection: Very High. Porcello could be the next Beckett, but he could also be god awful, as the contract is a contract that could stunt his development, especially if he struggles. So, he had better be what Boras has advertised. And, to be quite honest, I’m not sure that Porcello is much better than Jarrod Parker, whom the Diamondbacks took higher up and got for a less money than Porcello.
What He Can Be: A bonafide Ace.
2008 Course Of Action: Like it or not, the clock is ticking and Porcello will likely begin the season with the White Caps, where hopefully he’ll be ready for action.
Jay Bruce (CF) – Reds
DOB: 4/3/87
Drafted: 1st Round, 2005, Texas High School
2008 Club: Louisville Bats (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/195
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Drafted by the Reds in the first round, Bruce has been compared by scouts to former major leaguer Larry Walker. Since coming into the system, Bruce has done nothing but hit for power and play some mean defense and is now on the fast path to the majors for the Reds. He’s already jumped from High A to Triple A and didn’t even stay long in Double A because he was so dominant.
The Good: Bruce has great tools all around the board. He’s got 30 home run potential and hits to all fields. Though he’s got only average speed, he’s a great base runner. He's got a strong arm and he has the range to play centerfield. He does have some issues hitting lefties, but he’s improved enough where he shouldn’t have many issues with them.
The Bad: His swing can get long, resulting in lots of strikeouts. And, while Bruce is average as a centerfielder now, it’s likely that he’ll eventually move to right field as his body fills out.
Projection: Average. Bruce has been translating his tools into performance for the past couple of seasons and he's moving faster than expected. He’s moved a lot faster than anyone could have anticipated. He’s also got the potential to get a lot better than he already is, a sobering thought.
What He Can Be: An All Star Quality Right Fielder, Like Larry Walker.
2008 Course Of Action: Josh Hamilton was traded to the Rangers to eventually open up a job for Bruce, should he win one in Spring Training. However, it’s more than likely that Bruce will start the season in the minors before being called up at midseason, depending on where the Reds are in the standings as well as when Ken Griffey Jr. makes his inevitable trip to the DL.
Colby Rasmus (CF) – Cardinals
DOB: 8/11/86
Drafted: 1st round, 2005, Alabama High School
2008 Club: Memphis Redbirds (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/185
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Rasmus, the top prospect in the Cardinals system, enjoyed a breakout year in Double A and has rapidly developed faster than a lot of people may have thought possible, but it really shouldn’t be a surprise considering all the excellent prep outfield prospects drafted in 2005 (Jay Bruce, Cameron Maybin, Andrew McCutcheon, just to name a few).
The Good: Rasmus is one of the most athletic players in the Cardinals system with loads of tools. He’s got a quick bat and solid power potential to make him a 25-homer threat in the majors. He’s got good pitch recognition and should draw a good amount of walks in the majors. He’s also a dynamic centerfield, with good range and a strong arm.
The Bad: Rasmus has some problems with lefties and he can be over aggressive, leading to strikeouts and being caught stealing.
Projection: Average. Rasmus is nearly ready for the show and he’ll only get better as time goes on. Given time, he should be all that and more than what Jim Edmonds was for the Cardinals. Long term, Rasmus gives the Cardinals another middle of the order bat to plug in behind Albert Pujols, which should help the big man’s chances to see some pitches.
What He Can Be: A star center fielder.
2008 Course Of Action: In spite of what the Cardinals are saying about Rasmus being in the mix for their starting centerfielder job, that’s a hell of a jump to go from Double A to the Majors. Rasmus is going to be starting for the Redbirds, where he’ll get some more seasoning, and could perhaps see some action with the Cardinals come August, as he’s not ready yet.
Will Middlebrooks (SS) – Red Sox
DOB: 9/9/88
Drafted: 5th Round, 2007, Texas High School
2008 Club: Lowell Spinners (Short Season)
Height/Weight: 6-4/200
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A Top baseball and football prospect (QB), Middlebrooks' two-sport status may have lead to his falling down to the 9th round of the draft. Boston, never a stranger to taking high ceiling talent in the lower rounds, pulled the trigger and signed him for almost a million dollars.
The Good: A fantastic athlete with potential on the field and on the mound, Middlebrooks has good power potential and makes good, solid contact with the bat. He’s got good speed and is an excellent baserunner as well. Middlebrooks also has a strong arm and exceptional hands defensively.
The Bad: Middlebrooks lacks range, making a move to third base all but inevitable. And while his speed is solid now, that could change as he continues to fill out and mature.
Projection: High. I like Middlebrooks and felt that Boston stolen him in the 5th round, which more than made up for their lack of a first rounder in 2007. While he didn’t make my top 15 of Sox Prospects, he could easily rise up that list, depending on his campaign.
What He Can Be: A power hitting third baseman in the mold of Troy Glaus.
2008 Course Of Action: I think Middlebrooks will be kept at shortstop for now and will be worked with in extended Spring Training until Lowell starts their season, after which, he’ll being the year as the Spinners’ starting shortstop.
Daniel Moskos (LHP) – Pirates
DOB: 4/28/86
Drafted: 1st round, 2007, Clemson
2008 Club: Hickory Crawdads (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/200
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Moskos was one of the top left handed college talents in the country that’s money as a closer. However, there’s so much more to Moskos that just that. There is the potential for more if he gets drafted in the right organization. Because of the financial concerns that came with the Boras clients, the Pirates shied away from the mass of Boras arms available and instead took Moskos, who was a massive overdraft.
The Good: Moskos has good velocity, throwing in the low 90’s while working up as high as the mid 90’s as a closer. His fastball has great movement and he’s got a nice delivery. He compliments this fastball with a filthy slider. He’s also working on a changeup as a third pitch and many feel that he could be an excellent starter.
The Bad: The changeup is still a work in progress, so there’s no guarantee that he can get it up to a major league level pitch. Plus, at his size, with a max effort delivery, Moskos is probably best-suited for the bullpen long-term.
Projection: Low if he’s a closer. He could probably setup in September, similar to what Andrew Miller did. As a starter, I would say he’s going some average projection left.
What He Can Be: A dominant closer
2008 Course Of Action: Moskos has been told by the Pirates that he will remain as a reliever and he could very well enter the season as the Pirates' closer if they choose to go that route. It’s more likely, however, that he’ll begin the season in Hickory.
Hope you enjoyed it. If you want to see anyone in particular, leave a comment or send me a line at the email of FoxMail.
I've had about enough of the Johan Santana rumor mill.
It's becoming increasingly obvious that he'll be there opening day with the Twins and will remain with them till at least the trade deadline.
Why?
Because it's becoming increasinly obvious that there is a lot of chatter from all sides, but no action. Usually, the more rumors that are passed around about a player, the more unlikely it's going to happen. It's like talking the whole night how you're going to go after the prettiest girl in the room, but at the end of the night, you're going back home to nothing but a hard drive full of porn and a full box of kleenex.
Sorry for the visual analogy, but that's what it's become in the Santana Sweepstakes, which have become nothing more than just a lot of shock jock fodder and a whole lot of New York centric media opinions (oh god, the New York media opionions! Newsday has become unreadable!) I swear to god, if I hear one more Hank Steinbrenner quote, I'll go up to Yankee Stadium myself and stuff his father's turtleneck in his piehole, just so he'd shut up!
BTW, is it just me, or is Steinbrenner the Younger seeming to enjoy the limelight that comes with his new job. I think he's likely to follow in his father's footsteps, which means that the Yankees will be sucking in about five to eight years, thanks to Hank trading away the farm and signing the various Mel Hall and Danny Tartabull types on a whim.
The fact is, a trade should have already happened, as Boston, New York and New York should have pulled the trigger on a deal.
And spare me the talk about how Santana would require a huge contract extension that makes him unaffordable. All three of these teams would be lining up to get into a money fight for Santana if he hits the market next winter.
And the Yankees are the last one's to be preaching fiscal responsibility. Didn't they just spend $275 million on Alex Rodriguez? They can easily afford to extend Santana, who fills a need and has more upside to any Yankee prospect with the exception of Joba. They have $58.3 million coming off the books anyway, not counting the sunk costs of $6.95 million for paying Giambi and Pavano to go away.
Don't snicker Red Sox fans. You all aren't any better. You have about the same amount of money leaving the books, with Manny and Varitek's contracts coming off the books. And you have the farm system depth to fill the holes as well.
The Twins too also have to be reasonable. You aren't going to get a team to completely gut their system for Santana. It's unrealistic. You need to get teams to agree to a reasonable set of demands and flip as soon as the best deal comes up.
Financial reasons aside, here is what the Twins should reasonably expect to get for their ace:
1 High Quality Pitching Prospect
1 High Quality Positional Prospect
1 Above Average Pitching Prospect
1 Average Prospect Or Young Player
Here are the offers for each team:
Boston - Jon Lester (LHP), Jed Lowrie (SS/2B), Justin Masterson (RHP), Coco Crisp (CF)
I honestly don't know why the Twins haven't agreed to this deal, as it matches up with my qualifications perfectly. I think the Twins are hoping that Boston will toss in Clay Buchholz, which won't happen. Lester is an above average lefty who could be a number two starter. Lowrie could start for Minnesota now and be the best second baseman they've had since Chuck Knoblauch. Masterson has the potential to be a good pitcher in this league and Crisp helps give Minnesota a solid outfield for the first time in years.
New York (AL) - Phil Hughes (RHP), Melky Cabrera (CF), Jeff Marquez (RHP), Mitch Hillgross
This is insulting, actually. While Hughes is very good and I like Marquez to be a solid innings eater in the NATIONAL league, the rest is just ####. Cabrera is a average regular, not a star and I don't blame the Twins for shooing away fhe Yankees with this offer. If you want to give me something to think about, here is what I would ask for:
Phil Hughes (RHP), Melky Cabrera (CF), Ian Kennedy (RHP), Alan Horne (RHP)
And before Yankee Fans jump on me, consider this. Kennedy has been highly overrated since he was drafted and has been made to be a lot better than he is by the Yankee spin machine. He is, at best, a average pitcher with excellent command and is at best a Number Three pitcher, nothing more. He's not the second coming of Mike Mussia, who had better stuff than Kennedy at the beginning of his career. Horne has good stuff, but is injury prone and likely a bullpen guy in the end. Cabrera is an average regular, not a star.
New York (NL) - Carlos Gomez (CF), Delouis Guerra (RHP), Phil Humber (RHP), Kevin Mulvey (RHP)
A good offer, it's better than what the Yankees are offering and it sends Santana to the NL, where he wouldn't haunt the Twins. However, I would ask for Fernando Martinez, who has a chance to be a star, instead of Gomez. That would trump the Red Sox offer and if I had that deal on the table, I'd take it and run with it. Guerra has a chance to be a solid Number Two pitcher, Humber an inninsg eater, and Mulvey a solid 3. That's not a bad return.
Oh, and by the way, Omar Minaya is a fool for not agreeing to trade Gomez back in November for Matt Garza, who had a chance to be the best pitcher on the Mets' roster. The Twins should thank him, as they got Delmon Young in the deal, who is a lot better.
Unfortunately, it looks like we'll be inundated with more of the Santana claptrap, with more rantings for Hank Steinbrenner, more of us seeing Theo Epstein's Fraiser Crane impersonation with him saying "I'm listening", and more pleas from Omar Minaya for the Twins to accept his good, but not great offer.
So sorry folks, we'll be listening to three more months of the same #### till Spring Training ends.
Explaining The Rangers' Moves, Playing Russian Roulette For A Fifth Starter, And What To Do With Gerald Laird.
The Rangers Report – Offseason Edition
Rangers’ Moves Make Some Sense When You Look At It
Despite it being a rather quiet off-season for the Rangers, without the signings of some of the sexier names that were available on the free agent market, many of the moves that the Rangers did do are designed to allow for some of the youngsters in the minors some additional time to develop.
Many of the moves correlate to several of the Rangers’ rookies in the minors, designed to delay them for at least another half a season. Let’s check it out:
Alex Rodriguez Opts Out Of 10, Year, $252 Million Deal – A+. This was possible the best deal that the Rangers had happen to them this off-season, as the Rangers now have $21.3 Million to spend on THEIR OWN players. If this deal had been it, the Rangers may have had arguably the best off-seasons based on this alone. What this deal also does for the Rangers is to allow them to toss in a bit more coin on the draft, allowing them to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox for more lower round gems, as well as allowing them to attack the International Signing Period more vigously.
Sign RHP Joaquin Benoit To 2 Years, $6 million – A. To add another cherry on top, the Rangers also extended the ace of their bullpen to an extension, buying out his final year of arbitration and his first year of free agency. Benoit will now be competing for the role of closer next season. Suffice to say, this is good news, as Benoit could have gotten a lot more coin out on the open market.
Sign RHP Warner Madrigal To A Major League Contract – A. This makes the list simply because of the fact that the Rangers in essence get a prospect for free, without giving up anything. This was more thanks to the Angels’ screwing up than Texas monitoring the situation, but nonetheless, they get a relief prospect that throws hard and could be a potential closer. All in all, it’s a great way to add to the farm without giving anything other than a 40 Man spot. As for how he rates, think of a younger K-Rod.
Re-Signed UTIL Ramon Vasquez For 1 Year, $810,000 – D. Okay, Vasquez is a decent little utility man, but I think there were better options internally that could have been used, such as Tug Hulett, until German Duran is ready. Not loving this, really, but considering the salary and that he could be DFA’d with no trouble, ehh, whatever.
Trade CF Freddy Guzman To The Detroit Tigers For 1B Chris Shelton – B. Guzman wasn’t going to be with the Rangers for much longer anyway. While he is fast, his bat is rather anemic, making it hard to project him on the Rangers' as more of a fourth outfielder, pinch runner. As for Shelton, he's a valuable bench player that will see playing time as part of a platoon with Big Ben Broussard. More on how this helps in a minute...
Trade INF Tug Hulett to The Seattle Mariners For 1B Ben Broussard - A. Here's where the Shelton move comes in. For the price of a prospect that had no future here anyway, the Rangers get themselves a stopgap first baseman in the Bris Broulton combo that will now play at first. Broussard will take the majority of the at bats while Shleton spells him against lefties. This gives Texas roughly the equivalent of a major league first baseman. It also allows the Rangers to keep Chris Davis in the minors for another year, allowing him to benefit from coaching, at bats, and the opportunity to fine tune his skills until he gets the job next season.
Sign RF Milton Bradley For 1 year, $5 million - B. This one could blow up either way for the Rangers. Bradley could be a model citizen like Jurassic Carl was during his tenure with the Rangers or he could be a disaster and DFA'd soon after. However, Bradley is an elite bat that is now instantly the second best outfielder on the squad and will give the lineup a temporary boost.
Trade RHP Edinson Volquez and LHP Danny Ray Herrera To The Cincinnati Reds For CF Josh Hamilton - A-. For all the outcry of the Rangers trading pitching, this deal does make a lot of sense. Texas has no outfielders. On my top 40 Rangers prospects, only two prospects in the top 20 were outfielders, both of whom were acquired this year and both of whom are not anywhere near ready. Volquez, while he has talent, I'm beginning to think that he wasn't going to make it, long term, as his control was just too inconsistent. The Rangers jumped at the chance of adding a impact centerfielder and Hamilton also gives the Rangers a legitimate power presence that was lost when Mark Teixeira was traded. Plus, when Borbon is ready, the Rangers could then slide Hamilton to right field, where he'd be a solid fit.
All in all, that's my take on the Rangers' off-season activity. This Rangers' team is vastly improved from what the Rangers ended the year with, so with some luck, the Rangers will keep things respectable, but won't contend for the most part. However, with the kids arriving soon, the future does look like it will swing for the better.
However, Volquez's trade does leave the rotation short an arm. What to do about that?
Playing The Free Agent Russian Roulette For Starters…
Despite the Rangers publicly saying that they will likely fill in the hole in the rotation created by the Josh Hamilton trade, I do expect the Rangers to make a play for one of the free agent starters looking for a bounce back year due to injury. This is a good way to either waste money (which usually happens) or to cash in on a suddenly viable asset if a pitcher were to suddenly return to form (see Paul Byrd’s last stint with the Royals). This is also meant to give two prospects, Eric Hurley and Matt Harrison, more time to develop in the minors to ensure that they won’t get torched immediately once they get promoted. For the most part, the Rangers are doing their homework on the options available. Mark Prior was recently shot down by the Rangers after deeming his medicals a mess along with his refusal to take a club option with his deal. Kyle Lohse is also not going to be an option, especially when you consider just how inconsistent he was in the American League when he was in Minnesota and that his agent, Scott Boras, is going to hold out until teams get desperate and start to jump all over themselves for a pitcher. Lohse is a option I would not take if I was Tom Hicks, nor is it a contract I would want, when you consider, again, Harrison and Hurley’s near readiness for the majors. That means that the Rangers will be looking for a pitcher willing to take a one-year deal, likely with a club option if they can get it. This would also rule out starters like Livan Hernandez and Josh Fogg. With that in mind, here’s who is available:
Jason Jennings (RHP) – Pass. Jennings is going to get the most run because of his Baylor roots and because of his ability to pitch at hitters parks, as well as his age. However, Jennings really is a guy without any real out pitch who can eat innings and keep you in games. Basically, he’s the embodiment of a Number Three starter, not an ace. With that said, he’s probably better off staying in the National League and recently, his agent has made noise that Jennings will be at full strength by opening day and isn’t going to be willing to take a one-year deal, with lots of incentives.
Bartolo Colon (RHP) - Already Ruled Out. The Rangers have already ruled out Colon, who despite looking strong in winter ball so far, but apparently, not only are his medical reports a nightmare, he also wants a long term deal.
Freddy Garcia (RHP) – Strongly Consider, But Won’t Come To Texas. Garcia would be an option I would consider strongly. He has success pitching in the American League, as well as in a pitchers park, and is still reasonably in his prime as far as a starting pitcher could be considered. However, he likely wouldn’t be an option for the Rangers for two reasons: first off, he’s considering holding himself out of the market until June, allowing him to sell himself to the highest bidder, and second, there’s been a lot of smoke signals that he will likely end up with the Mets.
Kris Benson (RHP) – Strongly Consider. My crush on the wife with the big ta-ta’s aside, Benson would be what the Rangers would consider as far as a guy hoping to be brought in as a 4th/5th starter. He’s able to keep you in games, can flash a little more at times and may be willing to take a one-year deal in an attempt to build up his value. I’d be fine with him as a one year option in the back of the rotation.
Roger Clemens (RHP) – Pass. In spite of the Mitchell Allegations, Clemens may be willing to return for one more year, just to try and prove the doubters wrong in an attempt to prove that he’s clean. Hicks may choose to consider Clemens due to his Texas roots and because Clemens was still able to dominate in games last season. However, the negatives outside of the Mitchell investigation outweigh any benefits from Clemens. First off, he will undoubtedly want to come back on a shortened season, which does Texas no good whatsoever, and he broke down late last year, as his body began to break down. Finally, in spite of some dominating performances, Clemens for the most part looked average against American League lineups. While the Rangers wouldn’t be looking for an ace, Clemens’ agents would demand a paycheck worthy of the Clemens of old, not the Clemens of the present.
Jon Lieber (RHP) - Pass. Lieber should stick to the NL.
Josh Towers (RHP) - Strongley Consider. Towers' stats, on the surface, do match up a lot to Carlos Silva, who the Mariners paid a lot for. He's a groundball pitcher that won't walk a lot, nor strike out a lot, but he'd be a reasonable option as a fourth or fifth starter, provided that the defense keeps runs off the board. He'd be a smart signing.
Jamey Wright (RHP) – Last Choice. There is always the return of the Jamey Wright experience. Wright was tolerable as a starter for the most part and was excellent in relief. He’s still got good stuff and may be amendable to taking another one year deal from the Rangers. But at this point, you have to wonder if maybe it wouldn’t be better just leaving Kameron Loe back in the rotation and hoping it goes well.
Jeff Weaver (RHP) – Oh Hell No! This is really only here as a comparison to where the market is at. Weaver will get consideration because he’s a live body.
Mike Maroth (RHP) – Are You #### Kidding Me? Yes, the Rangers have looked at him for a possible minor league deal with a spring training invite. No, I don’t think it’s a good idea. The last thing the Rangers need is for a washed up vet like Maroth to take up space in the minors.
Gerald Laird’s Situation Getting A Little Ugly
Gerald Laird’s situation is starting to get a little…annoying actually.
Two months into the off-season, Laird is still a Ranger and the situation has the potential to get ugly. Laird has already made several comments about how he feels that the Rangers have never given him the opportunity to play full time and that it seems he has always had to fight for what he’s been able to get in the majors.
Laird could start for about ten teams and backup for another five if he were shopped, but the Rangers aren't able to find a buyer yet. There was a mention of Laird being traded for Coco Crisp, which made sense at the time, but Boston killed the deal by changing course and demanding Eric Hurley and Luis Mendoza in the deal as well.
Texas could flip him to the Yankees, but New York would demand the Rangers accept a lesser prospect in return, or worse, demand more in return for one of them lesser prospects, which would be a good way to just #### me off.
The Mets were rumored to be interested, but rejected a trade of Laird and Benoit for Lastings Milledge. They then traded Milledge for Brian Schneider's carcass and Ryan Church.
The Pirates would be an option, seeing as how they want Paulino out of the starting role, but what would the Pirates send back in return? Would it be an Xavier Nady deal, with the Pirates possibly accepting Robinson Tejeda in return?
I'll work out a more detailed list next week, as the Rangers not only need to move Laird, but need to make some decisions on other 40 Man Roster spots soon.
Draft Nugget I Missed
The Rangers have apparently scored well in Baseball America’s Draft Scores, with them receiving the second best grade of all,
If Rosenthal is right, the Nationals just screwed over the Mets by acquiring Lastings Milledge for catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church.
This deal makes almost no sense. Schneider is a below average catcher signed to a long term deal that is really no better than Paul LoDuca and a lesser option as a catcher than Johnny Estrada, who will now either be traded or non-tendered. Church is a okay outfielder, who could be capable of playing center, but he has had some injury issues in the past and lacks the power needed for an outfielder corner.
What the hell was he thinking?
God, if they are any Nationals fans on this board, they got to be celebrating. Milledge has the potential to be an excellent outfielder and all star. He comes with some baggage, but honestly, it's workable and a lot of it may have been blown out of proportion by the Mets.
The Nats now enter 2008 with a lineup that looks like this:
Felipe Lopez (SS)
Austin Kearns (CF)
Ryan Zimmerman (3B)
Wily Mo Pena (LF)
Lastings Milledge (RF)
Dmitri Young (1B)
Ronny Belliard (2B)
Catcher To Be Named Later
Pitcher
I'm getting the feeling that when it's all said and done with the Mets, they will look at Minaya's hiring to possibly be a collosal mistake.
Good move Nationals.
P.S. - How the Hell Did Texas miss out on this? I would have offered Minaya Gerald Laird and Marlon Byrd, which aren't expensive and for the most part are younger than Church and Schnieder.
Update - 1:09 Pacific - For all the flak that Jim Bowden gets and for all the accolades that Omar Minaya gets, Minaya has struck out a lot more on his deals than Bowden has. Almost all of his good moves have pretty much been salary dumps, with only two trades, the John Maine for Kris Benson sawp and the Xavier Nady for Oliver Perez swap, actually panning out. This merits a study, now that I think about it. Look for it in December.
This is a quick update to Tuesday's On The Block. Today's On The Block will be posted shortly...
On The Block - Johan Santana (again...)
Well, the trade acquistions of Delmon Young and Brendan Harris have changed what exactly the Twinkies will want in return for Santana and, subsequently, changes the amount of bidders available. The Twins will now likely look for a centerfielder as well as near ready starting pitching, and positional players. Harris is merely a stopgap shortstop and would actually be better at third base, assuming that the Twins go with Alexi Casilla and not the awful Nick Punto and second.
Here's who is going to likely not have a match:
Texas Rangers – Not that Texas was ever really in it, but this kinda kills any offer the Rangers could send. A package could be built around Hurley and Salty, but Kinsler wouldn't be as attractive.
New York Mets - The Mets now have no shot to even interest the Twins. The best thing they could do would be to try and acquire one of the Twins' lesser arms for an outfielder, but there isn't anything the Mets have that could interest Minnesota in any way.
That leaves four teams that realistically could trade for Santana, three of them the same from Tuesday, one of them new....
Potential Suitors – In Alphabetical Order
Boston Red Sox – Boston actually now would make the most sense, as they could send the Twins a good looking package of Jed Lowrie, a shortstop, Jon Lester, a ready made pitcher, Coco Crisp, a centerfielder, and likely a fourth prospect, possbly Brandon Moss, another outfielder, which could DH for the Twins, or something else.
Los Angeles Angels – Artie Moreno and Co. look like their willing to go all in this offseason, with the acquisitions of Garland and Hunter. It would be tough to see who Santana would replace, though it would likely come at the expense of Jered Weaver, a pitcher who is nowhere near as good as he's made out to be. The Angels could offer Minnesota a package of Reggie Willits, who could man center and bat leadoff, Brandon Wood or Erick Aybar, both of whom can play shortstop, Weaver, who could slot in right away, and likely a fourth prospect, maybe Mark Sweeney, a power hitting first baseman in the lower minors.
Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers MIGHT be able to make a deal now. Since the outfield is now out of player, the Dodgers would likely have to center a deal around Andy LaRoche, their top third base prospect, Chin-Lung Hu, their top shortstop prospect, as well as Clayton Kershaw and one more player. That would be too rich for me.
New York Yankees – The one team that the Young trade screws over the most is the Yankees, who now not only have to include Melky Cabrera in a trade, but would also have to include Robinson Cano, along with Kennedy and Hughes for a deal to work. And before the Yankee hate mail comes it, there aren't ANY positional prospects in the Yankees' minors aside from Austin Jackson, thanks to a lot of pitching centered drafts.
If I Had To Pick A Deal Right Now...Traded To The Boston Red Sox for SS Jed Lowrie, LHP Jon Lester, OF Brandon Wood and CF Coco Crisp.
Will A Trade Happen - Yes. The Twins are nowhere near close to competing in a very stiff AL Central and the window with this current nucleus closed about two years ago, making a rebuilding effort long delayed. At the very least, the trades of Santana and Joe Nathan would allow the Twins to get enough young pieces that the farm has failed to produce to put together a nice, young talent core to mount a challenge to the Indians and Tigers in two years.
Alright, just a quick rundown on the Santana Sweepstakes.
On The Block – Johan Santana
The reason for this? Why not?
The Why: Santana is entering his walk year and the Twins have already made it known that they won’t give him Barry Zito’s deal to keep him, mostly because of owner Carl Pohland, who one of the cheapest owners in sports, and they may want to see if they can acquire talent for him to help the club in the long run, as the system is starting to run a little dry thanks to some over-conservative drafting.
The Rumored Asking Price: Three to four good prospects, that are either ready to start immediately or are close to.
Can A Trade Be Done: Yes, provided that a window for a contract extension is granted to the acquiring team. Otherwise, no team is going to give up a top of low cost talent in exchange for a one year rental.
The Good: Santana is perhaps the best pitcher in baseball and could be the ace of ANY rotation. He’s dominant, has proven to be healthy, and can pitch in the AL and has done so in many of the best hitters parks in the league.
Potential Hang-ups:
Money – It’s going to be costly to extend Santana, who could be baseball’s first $20 million pitcher. That’s a LOT of money and many couldn’t afford him.
Prospects – The Twins want high ceiling talent and a lot of it, which is going to make things difficult, as many teams simply don’t have farm systems that deep to send the necessary talent back. So, that limits the amount of people that are legitimate suitors even further.
Potential Suitors – In Alphabetical Order
Boston Red Sox – Ummm, Boston apparently would be interested in Santana (but it makes no sense really, as they have a solid rotation already that is very cost effective), but they would likely offer the Twins a package of Jon Lester, Coco Crisp and probably infield prospect Jed Lowrie, plus a player to be mutually decided on. The problem is that they would only give up Lester and would balk if asked for Ellsbury or Buchholz.
Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers certainly have the ammunition to try and make a deal, with them offering a package that would include Andy LaRoche, their top third base prospect, Andre Ethier, who could start in left field, Matt Kemp, who would start in right, and likely Chad Billingsley, the top lefty prospect in the minors. That is a hell of a package and would give the Twins immediate bonuses to three of their lineup spots while giving them a stud pitching prospect as well. The problem is that Dodgers owner Frank McCourt might not like the price tag it would take to extend Santana.
New York Mets – Omar Minaya seems determined to make a huge splash, and has said he’s saving his trade chips for a front of the rotation pitcher. There’s just one problem: most of the Mets’ prospects suck. Philip Humber and Mike Pelfrey have had their stocks take hits and they lack many other positional players to send back to Minnesota. The best thing they COULD do would be to see if the Twins still want to do that Matt Garza-Carlos Gomez swap. I’d be all over that in a second.
New York Yankees – The Yankees are sure to be in on Santana, and apprently, after the Game 4 loss to the Indians, they immediately called the Twins asking what it would take to build a package around Chein Ming Wang to get Santana. This was purely rumor, but any deal involving Santana would likely involve New York. Wang wouldn’t be attractive to the Twins as he’s going to be getting expensive short and he really isn’t what they’re looking for. They’d likely ask for a package centered around Melky Cabrera and one of the Phil Hughes/Joba Chamberlain duet, with Robinson Cano thrown in for good measure. The Yankees would likely balk and try to see if Ian Kennedy would get the job done, after which they’re promptly be laughed at and hung up on. That’s really how it would go down, as New York is so protective even of their worst prospects that it’s hard to get a deal done. However, with Hank Steinbrenner spilling the beans about the negotiations to get him, this deal may have legs after all.
Texas Rangers – Texas certainly has the ammunition to make a deal, with a package likely having to center around Eric Hurley, their top pitching prospect, Ian Kinsler, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, which would allow them to use Mauer at DH more often. It would be a good trade package, but wouldn’t be enough to compare with what other teams may offer.
If I Had To Pick A Deal Right Now...Traded To The New York Yankees For RHP Phil Hughes, RHP Ian Kennedy, CF Melky Cabrera and OF Austin Jackson
Will A Deal Ultimately Happen – Yes. Frankly, the Twins could see themselves as being able to bounce back in contention with the return of Francisco Liriano, but let’s be reasonable. The Twins also have a lot of holes and their owners’ reluctance to spend money means they can’t buy themselves the necessary fixes to help remedy the problem. As a result, they’ve got to move him now to be able to at least reload with their current nucleus.
I checked out Ken Davidoff's latest column for Newsday yesterday, which was advice to Omar Minaya for how to improve the team next year.
For the most part, the column is good, with praise for keepng Willie Randolph and some of Minaya's minor trades and dealings, the only one two under issue being Luis Castillo and Moises Alou. However, his advice for how to improve the team is...flawed to say the least.
Much like my recent Steve Phillips rant, this one is more of a trashing o####uy that really has no idea what the hell he is talking about.
Let's see his advice to improve the Mets:
Trade Aaron Heilman, Lastings Milledge, Kevin Mulvey and a lower-level prospect to the A's for Dan Haren.
What the hell?
Okay, first off, Davidoff rightly tells Minaya he's got no chance for Johan Santana. However, he forgets to tell him that he's got no chance to scoring Haren either.
Haren is a legitimate top of the rotation starter that is signed for a very affordable amount of money, $4 million in 2008, $5.5 million in 2009 and $6.75 million (team option) in 2010. He is also not going to be had for this package. It's not enough.
Heilman is a okay setup man and Milledge can be a superstar. But Mulvey is merely a decent starting pitching prospect, maybe a Number Two or Three, more likely a Number Four, and unless the Mets are including Fernando Martinez or Carlos Gomez as the lower level prospect, this package isn't near enough.
Beane is likely going to look for a package similar to what the Twins are asking for Santana, three prospects near ready to play full time. There are several teams that could easily beat the Mets' offer, notably the Rangers and Mariners, who could offer better prospects than the Mets ever could.
Sorry Ken.
I'll detail Haren's price in a future On The Block.
