ESPN Report: Kenny Looking at Scott Linebrink

[SadChiSoxFanOptimist]

On my drive home tonight, Bruce Levine said that he'd heard that the Sox were looking at Scott Linebrink, right handed middle relief specialist of the Padres, and expected a deal "in the next two weeks" also to include Mike Cameron.

 

Although vague, Bruce thought minor league pitching might get the deal done although it may take a Sox starter to get the deal done.

 

I saw Linebrink last weekend against Atlanta and he looked terrific...I know there's a Linebrook champion amongst the esteemed SoxTalk community.

 

Talk amongst yourselves.

Edited July 17, 2006 by SadChiSoxFanOptimist

[WhiteSoxfan1986]

I dont see why they would trade their best setup guy when they are in first place, especially after they traded otsuka in the offseason. Levine is never right anyway.

[Dick Allen]

They are in first place. To trade those 2 for minor leaguers is definitely not going to happen.,

[Greg The Bull Luzinski]

Where would Cameron play? In LF, CF, or a 4th OF. Cameron is not a lead off man as we very well know.

[daa84]

I dont see why they would trade their best setup guy when they are in first place, especially after they traded otsuka in the offseason. Levine is never right anyway.

ive actually heard that they were looking to deal linebrink as well....i cant remember where i heard it, but its not bull that the padres would deal him

 

found this....

 

 

Lined Up

 

Padres general manager Kevin Towers has as many as 15 teams calling for set-up man Scott Linebrink. They have talked to the Indians about third base prospect Andy Marte. They have looked at either Corey Koskie or Billy Hall of the Brewers and are hoping that the Cubs decide to move Aramis Ramirez. They have talked to the Braves about Wilson Betemit too.

 

The Jays should be in the chase for Linebrink, who is 6-2 with a 2.68 earned run average, or ex-Jay Scotty Cassidy (5-4, 2.79), who the Padres just demoted and have to deal.

 

In a package for a third baseman, the Padres might part with triple-A catcher George Kottaras of Markham. He hit a home run and double in the Futures Game on Sunday.

 

 

http://torontosun.com/Sports/Columnists/El...16/1686900.html

Edited July 17, 2006 by daa84

[DBAHO]

Josh Fields is involved if its the case. You can book it.

 

Linebrink would be a FANTASTIC get for the pen, he's been extremely consistent over the past few seasons.

[BobDylan]

Where would Cameron play? In LF, CF, or a 4th OF. Cameron is not a lead off man as we very well know.

 

At this point, he's better than Anderson. His 14 SB's look pretty nice as well. This is a deal that makes sense for the White Sox.

[VAfan]

I don't really have a clue about Scott Linebrink, but I can't imagine the Padres unloading both Linebrink and Mike Cameron -- who I posted a month or more ago would be the perfect replacement for Brian Anderson this year -- for less than something that would help them in the NL West this year. And that's a price I doubt I would be willing to pay.

 

Cameron is much more reliable than the first/half BA, but how much better than an improved Anderson would he be? He'd be better, certainly, but probably not enough to surrender much to get him. And would we just send Anderson down to AAA? At this point, that could be a mistake.

 

As for Linebrink, I'm sure without looking that he would be an improvement over Tracey/Hermanson, but I'm inherently suspicious of pitchers coming out of the NL, and even more suspicious of pitchers coming out of cavernous San Diego. So I wouldn't trust him as a bullpen savior until he proved himself in the much, much tougher American League.

 

At this point, I don't think either guy or both of them together warrants anything close to a starting pitcher or major player from our side. They could help us, but I'm not salivating.

[Dick Allen]

I can't see a first place team making that trade for a 3rd baseman with zero major league ABs. I am a fan of dealing Fields however. I think its far more likely he turns out like Joe Borchard than Joe Crede.

[Chisoxfn]

The deal makes no sense unless the Pads have some front line starting pitching prospects they watn to give us as well while we give them Garcia and Fields

[iamshack]

I agree DA, but I would like to use Fields for a package that might get us a stud LF back in return. What I don't want KW to do is to deal him for a half season of Mike Cameron.

 

Linebrink is in high demand- every team in contention is calling about him. Bruce doesn't know s***.

[Dam8610]

The Padres want a 3B. We want Scott Linebrink, as evidenced by the whole thread earlier in the year that was basically devoted to him. Apparently, the White Sox FO wants him too. They have Josh Fields to deal, who has looked like a superstar at Charlotte this year. They're inquiring about Andy Marte, so I'd be willing to bet they'd like to get their hands on Fields as well.

[Chisoxfn]

The Padres want a 3B. We want Scott Linebrink, as evidenced by the whole thread earlier in the year that was basically devoted to him. Apparently, the White Sox FO wants him too. They have Josh Fields to deal, who has looked like a superstar at Charlotte this year. They're inquiring about Andy Marte, so I'd be willing to bet they'd like to get their hands on Fields as well.

You know, the more I think about it, if they are really dangling Linebrink for a 3b, they may just want to move Cameron for his contract (maybe they have other plans for CF) than if we threw in the right prospect to go along in the deal well it could make some sense.

 

You usually don't see a contender willing to do such a thing though.

[DBAHO]

I can't see a first place team making that trade for a 3rd baseman with zero major league ABs. I am a fan of dealing Fields however. I think its far more likely he turns out like Joe Borchard than Joe Crede.

Well you have to look at what Vinny Castilla has done for them at 3B so far this season, he has a sub .600 OPS IIRC, and they don't really have anyone to replace him at this point.

 

So I can definitely see them being interested in Fields, who would fit at Petco because he's a RHH. And he'll be a building block for that offense, because a main problem for them is that they struggle to score runs.

 

Probably a good move by KW to move him while his value is at the highest it has been, if it's what's going to happen.

 

Also Jason, the Sox may be interested in Cesar Carillo possibly, although he's injured ATM. He's got the stuff someone like Flash would like though.

[Greg The Bull Luzinski]

At this point, he's better than Anderson. His 14 SB's look pretty nice as well. This is a deal that makes sense for the White Sox.

 

BA has been playing better. Cameron would only be here on a rent-a-player basis. I just think we have bigger needs than replacing BA.

[Guest JimH]

BA has been playing better. Cameron would only be here on a rent-a-player basis. I just think we have bigger needs than replacing BA.

 

Agree. But there could be other deals. Pending. Not only from the White Sox' standpoint but also the Padres.

 

Very tough to say how the dominos will fall. Lots of teams want/need lots of different things.

[DBAHO]

Maybe a team like Seattle would be interested in Cameron, and the Sox could then on trade him for some pitching prospects or more bullpen help?

[sircaffey]

Agree. But there could be other deals. Pending. Not only from the White Sox' standpoint but also the Padres.

 

Very tough to say how the dominos will fall. Lots of teams want/need lots of different things.

 

I definitely see KW not stopping at one deal this year. The chips will fall...

[The Ginger Kid]

could it be Fields for Linebrink straight up?

[The Ginger Kid]

Cheat posted in his Blog that SD turned down Austin Kearns for Linebrink stright up...

 

Here is the link to the story.

 

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20...15padnotes.html

sounds like his value might exceed his worth in this market. Why would the friars part with him?

[T R U]

What about something like..

 

Linebrink, Carillo, Cameron for Garcia, Fields, and a spect?

 

haha, I wish.. but theres no way sadly

[Greg The Bull Luzinski]

If we were to get Cameron and Linebrink, I would have no problem sticking Cameron in LF for Pods. He K's a ton, but his OBP is about 10 points lower than Pods.

 

Our OF D would also improve by leaps and bounds with Cameron-Anderson-Dye.

 

 

Not sure I like the idea of Cameron batting leadoff. If Pods is out of the line up who does?

[jackie hayes]

Maybe a team like Seattle would be interested in Cameron, and the Sox could then on trade him for some pitching prospects or more bullpen help?

No, no, no. You're forgetting that he'd have to go through Cincinnati first.

[VAfan]

could it be Fields for Linebrink straight up?

 

That would be a HORRIBLE trade for the Sox.

 

Here are Scott Linebrinks' career stats.

2001 Hou 9 0 0 0 10.1 6 4 3 0 6 9 0 0 0 0 -- 2.61

2002 Hou 22 0 0 0 24.1 31 21 19 2 13 24 0 0 0 1 -- 7.03

2003 Hou 9 6 0 0 31.2 38 15 15 4 14 17 1 1 0 0 -- 4.26

2003 SD 43 0 0 0 60.2 55 22 19 5 22 51 2 1 0 6 -- 2.82

2003 -- 52 6 0 0 92.1 93 37 34 9 36 68 3 2 0 6 -- 3.31

2004 SD 73 0 0 0 84.0 61 22 20 8 26 83 7 3 0 28 5 2.14

2005 SD 73 0 0 0 73.2 55 17 15 4 23 70 8 1 1 26 5 1.83

2006 SD 41 0 0 0 43.2 31 13 13 8 11 43 6 2 1 18 4 2.68

Total -- 281 6 0 0 340.1 295 122 112 35 123 303 24 8 2 79 14 2.96

 

 

Here are David Riske's

2001 Cle 26 0 0 0 27.1 20 7 6 3 18 29 2 0 1 3 0 1.98

2002 Cle 51 0 0 0 51.1 49 32 30 8 35 65 2 2 1 5 0 5.26

2003 Cle 68 0 0 0 74.2 52 21 19 9 20 82 2 2 8 17 5 2.29

2004 Cle 72 0 0 0 77.1 69 32 32 11 41 78 7 3 5 9 7 3.72

2005 Cle 58 0 0 0 72.2 55 28 25 11 15 48 3 4 1 0 0 3.10

2006 Bos 8 0 0 0 9.2 8 4 4 2 3 5 0 1 0 0 -- 3.72

2006 CWS 12 0 0 0 12.0 8 2 2 1 7 9 0 1 0 2 -- 1.50

2006 -- 20 0 0 0 21.2 16 6 6 3 10 14 0 2 0 2 -- 2.49

Total -- 307 0 0 0 339.0 281 141 131 47 145 332 17 14 16 36 13 3.48

 

Both players will turn 30 this year, Linebrink in August, Riske in October. I've tossed both players' first year in the league.

 

Given the fact that Riske has played his entire career in the AL versus the much easier league, and ballpark, that Linebrink has been pitching in, it is hard to make a case that Linebrink is that much better than Riske. He looks like basically the same pitcher to me. They both throw mostly fastballs, with some sliders and change ups.

 

So, if David Riske was available for a AAA LOOGY who wasn't making our team anytime soon, then Linebrink isn't worth that much more. Now that's not to say San Diego would take a LOOGY for him, but he's certainly not worth anything close to the guy who may be the Sox best positional prospect.

[iamshack]

I agree. Kenny has worked some magic to get Thornton and Riske for spare parts. I can't see him giving away Fields for this now. Once again, the situation just isn't that dire.