Mets & White Sox Have Been Talking...

[caulfield12]

Rumors are the Indians want to sign J. Cruz and Jeremy Affeldt and let them fight it out for the closer's spot.

 

Good luck, Shapiro, on that one. Although, all things considered, a better idea than having Joe Borowski as closer, bringing in Juan Rincon or starting Jason Johnson 30+ games per year.

 

As long as the Indians are limited budgetarily, I think our main competition will remain the Twins and Tigers (if their pitching is healthy and performs up to expectations).

 

 

[Wanne]

Interesting question RE your post. Would you trade Danks for Fielder straight up? Fielder has already shown he's got super stud status. Danks looks like he's quickly heading that way but is still an unknown having just one good season.

 

I wouldn't even think about it. With such an onus on pitching...why would you trade your almost ace for an overweight, out of shape 1B?!?

Edited November 17, 2008 by Wanne

[caulfield12]

While it would tempting to bring in Fielder, I wouldn't think about it very long.

 

You can't give up that kind of young pitcher, especially a lefty. Theoretically, you could trade Konerko and get something decent in return, but I sincerely doubt you're going to identify another Danks or Floyd so easily in another organization. Teams are going to be wary of giving up starters to KW with much more potential than Marquez from the Yankees, who's more of a Slowey/Guerrier/Fogg back of the rotation guy than a pitcher with the arm/stuff to be a 2 or 3.

 

 

[rockren]

I wouldn't even think about it. With such an onus on pitching...why would you trade your almost ace for an overweight, out of shape 1B?!?

 

I agree I wouldn't trade Danks for Prince.

 

However, with Prince's weight being somewhat of an issue...I still think the world of him as a hitter for the next 8-10 years. I believe the Brewers WILL trade Prince this off-season and bring in a group of pitchers for him.

 

[caulfield12]

Would I trade Poreda, Fields and Shelby/Allen for him? In a heartbeat.

 

Of course, the Brewers will get a better deal somewhere if Texeira is really going to get a $200 million contract to play 1B.

 

I just think sinking in that kind of young/affordable talent into a trade for someone not named Pujols...at a position where unless you are a huge difference maker...the ROI is marginal. Back to Moneyball, and the idea of playing the likes of Hatteberg and Dan Johnson at 1B with the big money instead going into the starting rotation and key position players like Tejada and Chavez.

 

If you start out with the idea of having above-average performances out of catcher, SS, 2B, CF and the rotation, then you can build outwards from there.

 

With Beckham, Ramirez and AJ, we're pretty darned solid...although AJ will need to replaced eventually or eased out (like Varitek in BOS) and the CF/leadoff position addressed as priority #1 over 3B, 2B (unless it's Roberts or Hudson) and the 5th starter's spot.

Edited November 17, 2008 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

Joel Sherman of the New York Post takes a look at the sudden surplus of potentially available closers in major league baseball, a situation that certainly benefits the Mets considering their need to upgrade the bullpen this offseason.

 

Two free agent closers that seemed destined to retire with their 2008 teams, Trevor Hoffman and Kerry Wood, now appear to be more available than was expected in October. That pair, along with Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes, give the Mets and other teams several options in free agency.

 

Other relief pitchers with experience in the 9th inning have been recently mentioned in trade rumors. The list includes Huston Street, who may move again before the 2009 season begins, along with JJ Putz, Jose Valverde, and Bobby Jenks, mentions Sherman.

 

Sherman also provides a short list of teams, beyond the Mets, that may need a reliever with closing experience for 2009. The Texas Rangers, seemingly always short on pitching these days, may be a good fit for Kerry Wood; the Detroit Tigers, the St. Louis Cardinals, and most recently the Milwaukee Brewers, faced with the sudden retirement of Salomon Torres, are also in need of 9th inning help.

 

Sherman suggests Fuentes may be the favorite for the Mets' closing job at this point.

from mlbtraderumors.com

 

Couple of interesting rumors...Blake to the Twins (and OC) we've heard, but also that the Twins are very interested in acquiring Street from the Rockies.

 

That would give them a set-up guy to replace Crain/Guerrier in the 8th, and move them forward an inning or two. It's also a replacement, in a way, for the difference-maker that WAS formerly known as Joe Neshek.

 

Who do they have to trade for him? Well, Mijares or Breslow (LHR)...to replace Fuentes. Then someone like Brendan Harris, Buscher, Ruiz or Punto. I also see a little interest in Cuddyer, although he's getting expensive. Of course, the Rockies would prefer Jason Kubel or Denard Span instead.

Edited November 17, 2008 by caulfield12

[max power]

How could you let Hoffman go if you are the padres? I don't care if they are in contention. If he wants to leave I let him, but after 15+ seasons, I doubt he wants anything more than to retire a padre.

[witesoxfan]

Who do they have to trade for him? Well, Mijares or Breslow (LHR)...to replace Fuentes. Then someone like Brendan Harris, Buscher, Ruiz or Punto. I also see a little interest in Cuddyer, although he's getting expensive. Of course, the Rockies would prefer Jason Kubel or Denard Span instead.

 

I see no way that the Twins would deal Mijares. I could envision him as a dynamite closer someday with his stuff. Breslow on the other hand is nothing more than a LOOGY from what I've seen. Righties didn't hit him well this year, but he faced nearly as many lefties as he did righties. I also don't have the inherited runners stats, but that would be interesting to see.

 

 

[YASNY]

Rumors are the Indians want to sign J. Cruz and Jeremy Affeldt and let them fight it out for the closer's spot.

 

Good luck, Shapiro, on that one. Although, all things considered, a better idea than having Joe Borowski as closer, bringing in Juan Rincon or starting Jason Johnson 30+ games per year.

 

As long as the Indians are limited budgetarily, I think our main competition will remain the Twins and Tigers (if their pitching is healthy and performs up to expectations).

 

So much for that plan. Affeldt signed with the Giants.

[greg775]

Anybody who thinks Affeldt can be a closer is a moron.

He is awful.

That's why I think in the offseason you can trade a Paullie or Dye and get a lot in return. If Paulie had a trade clause.

Guys sound much better in the offseason, like MacDougal, Sisco, Dotel, Swisher.

During the season when you see Paulie not hit 3 months, not so much.

Affeldt pure and simple sucks.

[witesoxfan]

Anybody who thinks Affeldt can be a closer is a moron.

He is awful.

That's why I think in the offseason you can trade a Paullie or Dye and get a lot in return. If Paulie had a trade clause.

Guys sound much better in the offseason, like MacDougal, Sisco, Dotel, Swisher.

During the season when you see Paulie not hit 3 months, not so much.

Affeldt pure and simple sucks.

 

Affeldt has been a pretty damn good reliever the past two years. I wouldn't want him closing, but he has a good arm and has become a solid reliever.