Chombi

Yes sir. Quentin has the talent and just needs the time. I hope he tears the cover off the ball.

I have tried to stay away from this thread because my gut feeling was that someone wanted to take a shot on him. I was worried it may be supported. Luckily, it wasn't. Thank you.

That is an interesting theory. I am not an anti-Bonds guy. I loved him when I was a kid so I really wouldn't have a problem with it. It's just something that I don't think is realistic or worth the bad PR. If KW signs him and it backfires where our fans aren't acceptive or he goes to jail, what happens? Are we the laughing stock of baseball? Does KW get fired? Are we looked at as a team who sold our souls? Just curious. Let me know what you think.

First of all...I'd say Billingsley and Broxton are hardly prospects. The deals I have seen for Bedard alone from teams like Seattle and Cinci consist of 3 top prospects in their respective organizations. I figured that seeing as those teams are offering up that kind of package, and that it was rumored for a while the Dodgers were looking at a Kershaw/Kemp for Santana deal, that the Dodgers would offer a similar package for Bedard. Similar until Tejada enters the conversation as well. I can't see how it's not both unless they start with a package of one or the other and build more quantity over quality. Bedard + Tejada could net Kershaw, Kemp or Ethier, and one of Billingsley, Broxton, Elbert and even LaRoche. I caught something about Jay payton and Pierre in a different post. If that is the case, then obviously the Dodgers don't do this deal w/o shedding bad contracts and Idk why the Orioles would want to do that. Their target should just be young inexpensive talent or prospects. Which if it's the case that the Dodgers will push Pierre or even Furcal and you're not getting both Kemp/Kershaw and more...I go back to Cinci. It looks like according to Shack they both won't be in it so that should answer the question. If they do this deal I seriously question some of these gm's.

Just saw the little Rosenthal mentioning of how the Orioles may try to package both of them and how it'd make sense for the Dodgers. Guessing that's where you saw it but idk. It's interesting, that's for sure. If they can steal 4-6 guys from the Dodgers it'd be a much better return than the Marlins got IMO. I'd assume Kershaw, Kemp, Billingsley or Broxton, plus more...Yikes. I'd love that deal.

I saw they were interested last week as long as it was 2 for 1. Maybe 3 if the third is not big time. Otherwise, I havent seen anything lately. Most I've heard on them is that they were targeting a bullpen arm and like Wade Davis or Neimann from the Rays for Ethier. Thats the only rumble I've heard.

Figgins isn't our answer and will cost more then just an injured 3rd and a rp in my mind. The comment you responded to Balta says it all about Figgins and Rowand. Both of whom will suffer big declines in numbers next season, more on Rowands end then I think Figgins. And the part about dealing their 1-2 guys here is somewhat true but Kendrick can hit 2 IMO so I don't think they're very worried if they fill their other holes. A healthy Mathews can hit leadoff if they get desperate enough. Richar is very beloved on this board and they have even convinced me to let him ride for a year or two. I thought the deal was made for a good young backup with potential to be serviceable waaaay down the road. Hey, who knows though. I liked what I saw from time to time with him. No Figgins please. No Rowand please (glad to hear the Giants might make him a 5 year offer). There was something else I wanted to address but forgot. I'll get it in another post.

I don't argue that. I think that all feeds into the fact that we are looked at as non-contenders in our division with a good team on paper. To me that was the point of the article or at least the vibe I got. The Cleveland part is irrelevant to me. They don't have a 100 mil payroll...yet. That wasn't the point. The Sox do. They are willing to spend. Spending should help compete and in their case it wont. You're just getting much deeper into our problems instead of just taking the basic version that I felt the article was hitting. Whatever factors go into it play their part but you're going deeper then the article was pointing out in my eyes. You're looking at the whole picture and I agree with most of it.

It is true. Fukudome and Rowand should both be "No's" though. What would we even do with Bonds? Not play him in left I hope. Any FA move at this point is bold and irrational. We know we are not contenders so why waste more money and clog up another hole with an old veteran. Rowand and Fukudome both want 5 year deals. Rowand supposedly will get a 5 year offer from SF and Fukudome will get it from the Cubs. Doubt the Padres will go 5 years.

Sounds right. Fukudome I heard they are throwing a 4-50 offer at and are discussing a 5-65 deal. Crazy talk IMO. Why in the world they go to Baltimore and not go for the Prize of Bedard is beyond me. If they are content and want to settle on Roberts, go for it.

The vibe I got was that we don't have a chance and that it is a shame. That seemed to be the driving point of it. A team with a 100 million dollar payroll and a WS ring from two years ago is looked at as "out of it" because the league is that good. That's what I got out of it.

Yea it's accurate. No doubt. Has been said quite a few times too. Most of the people calling for a firesale have said that. We won when we had the chance. It's tough to repeat and we almost got a chance in 06' but didnt happen....therefore, time to rebuild. Great post but just add another to the firesale list.

Sometime soon is within the next few weeks. If they play this out until next offseason it will be bad for us. Value will most likely drop on all guys who are proven because of age, contract, etc. It they are going to go all in it needs to happen now and if they play on rebuilding, that should happen now too. Waiting may not help the situation. In a case like MB or something it might. A deadline deal for a team itching for an SP. Otherwise, blow it up or go for it, but do something now. Don't let this team limp through the season with it weighing on them. They don't appear to be very good as it is, don't make it worse.

The latest I've heard is that Crisp isn't going to Minne. They decided on Ellsbury, Lowrie, Masterson and another prospect if they go Boston's route. Mitchell report is due out Thursday I believe.

True. I haven't heard them in on any SP's. One thing though is we have other needs to address. Be it OF, dealing Crede or Fields, Uribe and/or the plans to move extra bullpen arms. There are still things that need to happen. If there is a target we set our sights on while trying to deal those guys and it requires more on our end, like an arm, I don't think the rotation is set in stone and 4 of those 6 guys would be trading chips. KW hasn't been rumored to be doing much but I think they are waiting til after the New Year and will go from there. Clearly his plans have been blown up. Fukudome is waaaaay out of our comfort price/year range for a guy like him. I truly think he knows Rowand would be a mistake so they are probably trying to figure out what to do during this period between the meetings and holidays. Outside of that. I wouldn't be shocked at all if our rotation was different come ST. I wouldn't be shocked if this team doesn't change one bit either. I would be shocked if we won 75 games or had a firesale though.

To be honest. I think they don't know how to project guys like Garza. They have had a bad group scouting the last few years so maybe that is why they just went for guys who they thought were easy to project. I guess it's a flaw and was a philosophy?

Agreed. Broadway wouldn't even have gotten us Dukes without them being so desperate to get rid of him. Talent for talent, it wouldn't have happened. Garza has the stuff to be ridiculous. I have been high on him for years and he has let me down the last couple so I've soured a bit. When he was dealt for Young I didn't know whether Young's stock had fallen or if Garza still had high value. In fact, I am still not sure. The Rays (such a simple change but I am never getting used to that) have a nice little team. Some great prospects on their way up too. Watch out for the 09 and 2010 teams they sport. They could be dangerous. Even this year they may not have a top 10 pick for once.

Doubt Edwin is in the deal. I've seen Bailey's name and Cueto's name. Hard to believe they'd both be in the deal plus Votto but who knows. In any case, if they are, they'd want pitching for him I'd assume. Wouldn't be shocked if they asked for Danks.

I wasn't trying to imply Fowler was in the Braves system. It just came out that way I guess? Idk. I figured those who knew the name, knew the guy. I was just making the point that he was a Braves fan cuz it was nice to hear that someone thought he could be had for cheap b/c they want to make a run again. The sidenote about the Braves system should've been seperate I suppose. I still like the kid. Big guy with lots of tools. Wasn't he injured last season? He has a higher ceiling then most of our prospects and if you think he can be had for Mac. I'd take the risk. Put him in the minors and see what happens. Gotta be better then what we have now? Edit: Sircaffey thanks for the injury info. I thought he was hurt.

Zero chance Milwaukee does this.

Maybin may be a bit much. An interesting name brought up tonight with a friend was Dexter Fowler. The friend is a Braves fan and also had me convinced that their farm system is still loaded, and I believe him. Anyways...Fowler. Can he play CF in the majors or is it still too early? Can he bad had for bullpen plus a prospect or two? Say Mac + Massett and Sweeney or Anderson. Idk if it's a lot but seeing as they want bullpen. Mac seems to be removed with Linebrink. Massett is a nice arm and Sweeney is a decent prospect still. Anderson I think we have given up on so maybe he'd fit and needs the change. Idk Fowler isn't that top notch prospect but he is still a top 10 OF IMO. Still young. What do you think?

Maybe I am just putting too much stock into certain prospects. Or too much stock in that teams were becoming less open to dealing young talent for guys nearing contract expirations. It's just the deal I have heard from the Reds, Mariners and the fact that Rasmus was apparently made available for him has just sent me in circles. I just found it hard to believe that we have had other threads talking about deals and how certain players couldn't land big deals. Be it Garland's value, Konerko's, Field's, Crede, whoever. Just has taken me back a little to hear some of the things I've heard. Even over them. Seeing Santana's offers from Boston I thought weren't enough. I couldn't figure out why they were even considering a deal not starting with Bucholz + Ellsbury/Lester and something else. Similar to the Yankees Hughes + Cabrera and a 3rd prospect. The deals I've seen for a lesser pitcher like Bedard and even the dbacks with Haren have just thrown me for a loop my friends. Thanks for the contributions.

If you say so. I love Bedard's skills. I don't discredit his talent or anything. He's got a couple years left under control I know but I just don't see his value being so extreme in the possible deals I have seen for him. In some cases, we'd be hard pressed to land one of the names being thrown out in his deals, let alone 2-4 of them. Just blows my mind a little especially when I compare it to a guy like MB or JV. I just don't see it though. Talent wise he may be much better. Age there is not much of a difference and his contract will be much larger then a guy like MB. Probably like 18+ mil. I guess I'd just like to see him eclipse 200 innings and prove he can be a horse that is required in being an "Ace". Adding in cost to acquire in terms of prospects. Cost yearly to keep him for some of the teams inquiring (lot's aren't big spenders). His lack of innings he can seemingly handle. I don't know. Don't get it. I tend to go back and forth on a guy like MB as to if they are underrated or not. I read an article about the worst offseason signings and the little blurb about Linebrink. It addressed his struggles and how they're expected to continue in our ballpark because of how much of a hitter's park it is. Why that isn't measured in a guy like MB and his success is beyond me. I'd love to keep him since he seems to not bring back what I'd like to think his value is. I guess k's are just very important and "pitching" has gone out the window a little.

The first part is an interesting way of looking at things. I've hardly considered it but it may not be a bad idea in some instances instead of getting fired up and debating the issue. I do agree that it is looking easier to fill the 3b hole as opposed to the CF hole. Especially when you look at the prices it costs for guys at those positions. I don't think Fields should be valued higher then Maybin on anyone's board simply because Maybin is a freak talent with many years still to learn. It is also more time to flop I guess. Owens and Fields just doesn't seem like enough. I'd think Fields + an arm may be enough. I dont know though. I do not want Blalock. I don't think he is worth his money/cost. Daniels said it's going to take a lot to get him. He hasn't really been the same guy for years now because of his back and shoulder (I believe that's been their excuse). He looked better last season and I thought that the word of him turning it around due to him finally "being healthy" was actually true...He got hurt again with a shoulder or rib injury, i forget, either way idk about him...The cost + injury + concerns of his performance isI'd rather take the risk on Crede (assuming in the case of Fields being moved) and not waste any prospects. If Fields is here, let him play.

Detroit is only better if Verlander and Bonderman step up. They both can do it. Verlander I think is ready and Bonderman can do it if his arm isn't a noodle. If he is healthy, he can be a force. Rogers, Willis, and Robertson I see all having AL averages for SP's. Slightly higher or lower depending on which you pick, but they should balance out to league avg. imo. If those two big guns in the front of their rotation do not carry that team then they will perhaps struggle more then we expect. Offensively, they're loaded. Better then Cleveland, who is also pretty loaded. Sabathia and Carmona I think will have a minor regression in statistics/seasons. Even still, Cleveland will be very good. Our division is just ridiculous top to bottom.