2012 Catch-All Trade Deadline Thread

[Spitball]

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 25 at 1:37pm CST]

 

We checked in on the AL East this morning, but with less than a week remaining before the trade deadline, the rumors don’t stop coming. Here’s the latest...

•The Red Sox won't trade Jon Lester this summer, Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com reports. The Red Sox are working to add starting pitching and have interest in controllable right-handers Matt Garza and Josh Johnson, Edes writes.

 

This is at least encouraging.

[SoxSport]

There's an interview printed in the Globe and Herald today with Roy Oswalt, in which he talks frankly about his dealings this year with teams as a free agent. He says the Red Sox looked at him, but never made him an offer. He also says he almost signed with the Dodgers, and that closeness to home was never a factor. He was open to signing anywhere. He wound up signing in Texas for $5M, 1 year.

 

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/20220725oswalt_offers_details_on_deal_rangers_deliver_after_sox_caught_looking/

 

The lesson in this is to take those "unnamed source" media rumors with a grain of salt. They are just filling space.

[SoxSport]

This is at least encouraging.

 

Keep in mind they have no extra dollars to spend. I can't see them adding somebody else's salary without giving salary back. The Cubs and the Marlins are trying to cut salary. I suspect the Marlins took the Dodger deal rather than taking Crawford--because of money. It probably wasn't the Red Sox that vetoed that proposed deal, though the Bell factor complicates the issue.

[SoxSport]

I would much, much rather the Sox go after Josh Johnson than an over-weight, on the way down Hanley Ramirez. The Red Sox can score runs, make errors. and have an unhappy clubhouse without that overpaid headcase.

 

Btw, the Dodgers took on his whole contract. It was assumed the Marlins would have to take on a chunk of it to get rid of him.

 

.. And they'll take JJ's whole contract for prospects if the Marlins are dumping. But the Sox won't.

[SoxSport]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/marlins-jeffrey-loria-david-samson-fire-sale-trade-hanley-ramirez-new-stadium-.html

 

Yahoos sports never has anything good to say about the Red Sox, but I have to applaud them for going after those Miami Marlin owners in this story. The new stadium deal in Miami smelled like rotten fish--with payoffs to the politicians for concessions and tax priviledges--and Yahoo previously blew the whistle on how the taxpayers got fleeced.

 

As a former condo owner there, I can tell you the place is in a state of depression from the collapsed real estate market, and it's pretty sickening to hear about all the big bucks being tossed around--not only by the Marlins but also the Heat. Fantasyland is in Miami --not in Orlando's Disneyworld.

 

It's hard to see how the Marlin owners could have made that trade offer of Crawford for Ramirez and Bell.

They can't afford Crawford. In fact, they are dumping salary. My guess is the Sox were the instigators of the deal--and their plan was to flip Ramirez to the Dodgers. Probably for prospects. That way, they figured to get away scott free from Crawford's contract. Very clever--but it didn't work. Miami decided to cut out the middleman and deal directly with the Dodgers-- a whole lot better than taking on Crawford's contract. Of course, they still have Bell to unload. Where are the Yankees when they're needed? LOL

[example1]

I noted this in the other thread, but I'm even wary of Josh Johnson and Garza at this point. Unless they get them for very little, they won't be worth it when they become FAs after next season. To extend either of them would be to get into the exact same situation they did with Lackey and Beckett already: pay a decent but not hall of fame caliber pitcher FA prices to keep them around during their late-20s, early 30s. The Sox need to avoid that model like the plague. If Johnson can be had for bottom 2nd, or 3rd tier prospects then I'm okay with it. Even a guy like Iglesias or Ranaudo would make sense, but nobody in their top 10 prospects and I wouldn't deal any of their top pitching prospects for anyone right now. The winds have shifted in baseball and it will be all about retaining the young talent, or dealing it for young talent.

[a700hitter]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/marlins-jeffrey-loria-david-samson-fire-sale-trade-hanley-ramirez-new-stadium-.html

 

Yahoos sports never has anything good to say about the Red Sox, but I have to applaud them for going after those Miami Marlin owners in this story. The new stadium deal in Miami smelled like rotten fish--with payoffs to the politicians for concessions and tax priviledges--and Yahoo previously blew the whistle on how the taxpayers got fleeced.

 

As a former condo owner there, I can tell you the place is in a state of depression from the collapsed real estate market, and it's pretty sickening to hear about all the big bucks being tossed around--not only by the Marlins but also the Heat. Fantasyland is in Miami --not in Orlando's Disneyworld.

 

It's hard to see how the Marlin owners could have made that trade offer of Crawford for Ramirez and Bell.

They can't afford Crawford. In fact, they are dumping salary. My guess is the Sox were the instigators of the deal--and their plan was to flip Ramirez to the Dodgers. Probably for prospects. That way, they figured to get away scott free from Crawford's contract. Very clever--but it didn't work. Miami decided to cut out the middleman and deal directly with the Dodgers-- a whole lot better than taking on Crawford's contract. Of course, they still have Bell to unload. Where are the Yankees when they're needed? LOL

If that was Cherries brilliant plan to get out from under Crawford's contract, then he is truly a jackass. The rumors were rampant that HanRam was being peddled, so did he really think that the Dodgers would not independently inquire about him. Amazing.

[SemperFi Sox]

I've never liked as many prospects in our farm system before. I don't want to lose anyone good for a pitcher like Garza.

[Orange Juiced]

If that was Cherries brilliant plan to get out from under Crawford's contract' date=' then he is truly a jackass. The rumors were rampant that HanRam was being peddled, so did he really think that the Dodgers would not independently inquire about him. Amazing.[/quote']

 

Not really. It's something Billy Beane used to do (and I presume, still does) all the time....inserting himself into a trade to see if, by acting as a middle man, he could somehow get something. Doesn't always work, but sometimes it does. Worth a shot.

[SoxSport]

If that was Cherries brilliant plan to get out from under Crawford's contract' date=' then he is truly a jackass. The rumors were rampant that HanRam was being peddled, so did he really think that the Dodgers would not independently inquire about him. Amazing.[/quote']

 

The Dodger owners (including Magic Johnson) are in a buying mode. They will take anybody's salary dump for prospects. That huge LA cable TV market is behind it. They are competing with the Angels. Look for them to get JJ as well.

 

The real truth about that CC for HRam/Bell "deal" has leaked out in bits and pieces the last few days. It was an amateur effort. It shows they are pretty desperate to unload Crawford and cut salary.

[SoxSport]

Not really. It's something Billy Beane used to do (and I presume' date=' still does) all the time....inserting himself into a trade to see if, by acting as a middle man, he could somehow get something. Doesn't always work, but sometimes it does. Worth a shot.[/quote']

 

Ha. Not on the scale we are talking about here. Billy was dealing in peanuts on the phone.

[a700hitter]

I've never liked as many prospects in our farm system before. I don't want to lose anyone good for a pitcher like Garza.

I wouldn't either, but we are just talking about untouchable. Garza would be a bad acquisition at any price. As for our prospects, they are not all that great. We are producing zero in the was of pitching.

[Orange Juiced]

Ha. Not on the scale we are talking about here. Billy was dealing in peanuts on the phone.

 

True, but again, worth a shot. Why not give it a go?

[Orange Juiced]

I wouldn't either' date=' but we are just talking about untouchable. Garza would be a bad acquisition at any price. As for our prospects, they are not all that great. We are producing zero in the was of pitching.[/quote']

 

Matt Barnes looks like he's going to be tremendous. Alex Wilson has the tools to be a serious bullpen guy. I think (HOPE!!!!) Bard will rebound back to his 2010-11 form. If they keep Lester, Buchholz, and Doubront, that would mean potentially having the following home-grown pitchers in, say, 2014: Lester, Buchholz, Doubront, Bard, Wilson, Barnes. That's not bad at all.

 

I just wish Ranaudo would get his act together. That guy has scary good potential but so far he's looking like a bust.

[SemperFi Sox]

Matt Barnes looks like he's going to be tremendous. Alex Wilson has the tools to be a serious bullpen guy. I think (HOPE!!!!) Bard will rebound back to his 2010-11 form. If they keep Lester, Buchholz, and Doubront, that would mean potentially having the following home-grown pitchers in, say, 2014: Lester, Buchholz, Doubront, Bard, Wilson, Barnes. That's not bad at all.

 

I just wish Ranaudo would get his act together. That guy has scary good potential but so far he's looking like a bust.

 

Owens is a strike out machine, can't sleep on him either.

[SoxSport]

A lot of talk about trading prospects. Hard for me to see that happen, since I don't think they can afford to take on salary. That means no Garza or JJ.

 

It's tough to see them making a deal for a high end starter unless they dangle Ellsbury. They need to trade some salary. Maybe they can dump salary with a prospect or two as an incentive.

[jung]

I don't know that the Sox would make a deal that did not allow them to move salary either. I don't think they can afford to take salary.

 

Seeing some comments on what BC said this morning on D&C but not sure if he actually said "I am standing pat" as in expect no trade deadline moves or if he said something else. No moves sounds more right for the Sox this year but contradicts LL's "bold moves" comment.

[Orange Juiced]

Interesting quote from Joel Sherman of the NY Post: "The Red Sox earlier this month did try to flip Carl Crawford to the Marlins for Jose Reyes to address the shortstop situation. One AL executive said of Crawford, that Boston “wants him out in the worst way.” But the deal died."

 

I think Reyes also has an overblown contract, but still....I think I'd have done that deal. His contract is a little smaller than Crawford's, and he provides them all kinds of offensive help at a position where it's difficult to get a lot of production. Maybe they wanted the Sox to throw in a prospect and/or take on Heath Bell as ballast?

[jung]

Crawford for Reyes would have been an interesting move....sort of says a lot about the Sox thinking on guys like Iggy and maybe Ciriaco as well and of course Aviles although inserting Aviles as the everyday SS was another dead and to stupid to fall over move.

[a700hitter]

Sorry SFF. It's going to be more of the SOS for the Sox the rest of the way. Thay like their pitching.

 

Phillies Won't Trade Cliff Lee

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 27 at 12:13pm CST]

 

The Phillies won't trade Cliff Lee before the July 31st trade deadline, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. Furthermore, the Phillies have no plan to consider trading Lee in August, when players can be dealt after being placed on waivers. Something would have to change for the team to consider trading Lee, Heyman writes.

[kapsis21]

lets not start believing everything that comes out on mlbtraderumors.

[a700hitter]

lets not start believing everything that comes out on mlbtraderumors.

When a report like the one about Lee not being traded is put out there so unequivocally, it ain't happening unless it is the Yankees acquiring him, so I would prefer to believe MLB Trade Rumors in this case.

[SemperFi Sox]

Everthing has been quiet on the Upton front.....hmmmmm

[a700hitter]

Everthing has been quiet on the Upton front.....hmmmmm

They are going to let him build up more trade value against Met pitching this weekend.

[Laser Show]

Seeing these SP's being pulled from the trading block could actually be a good thing. Who were the pitchers rated ahead of Beckett in the past month who may have been available?

 

Josh Johnson - Will take a Mark Teixeira type of haul- The Rangers got Andrus, Feliz, Harrison, and Salty

Zack Greinke - Available

Cole Hamels - Off the market

Cliff Lee - Off the market

Anibel Sanchez - Traded

Matt Garza - Injured. The Cubs shut him down until after the deadline

Ryan Dempster - Only wants to go to the Dodgers (or so I've heard)

Wandy Rodriguez - Traded

 

That leaves Greinke as the only SP teams would take over Beckett. The Rangers, Angels, and Braves all want Greinke, so once he's moved, Beckett would probably be the most valuable pitcher available.

 

Someone will want him.

[User Name]

The question then becomes, who could want Carl Crawford? I think that the Red Sox should try a bad contract swap with the Nationals for Jayson Werth. The idea has been mentioned before, but i think it makes a ton of sense.

[Laser Show]

Agreed.. I threw it out there yesterday, but I've been hearing it mentioned here and there. Crawford would fit in very well with the Nats and Werth would give us a legit RH power threat.

[User Name]

Another big question is...how much of a problem do Beckett's 10-5 rights become?

[jung]

I could definitely buy into a Werth for CC deal. Werth would at least be a fit for the Sox. That to me would be a gamble worth taking.

[User Name]

If i'm the Sox, i pay the difference between the contracts and take the gamble.