The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0603-around-town--20100602,0,803615.column (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0603-around-town--20100602,0,803615.column)

Rumored the Angels,and Cubs are talking Derrick Lee,I really don't have a problem with trading Lee,but I have a Problem Jim Hendry will trade him for magic beans and a three legged Donkey.It seems like for every good move he makes he makes 3-5 bad ones.

What the Cubs might get in return will depend on L.A.'s perceived viability to remain in the race for the AL West.  With Boston, New York Toronto all over 30 wins and chasing the wild card, it is reasonable to assume that the WC will come from the AL East, barring something off and odd.

Right now L.A. stands at 27-28, however they are only 2.5 behind the Texans (7 off the WC chase). 

L.A. will decide if, with Lee, they have a legit shot of hanging around.  If they do, they'll pony up something worthy (most likely one AA prospect and one A). 

If this trade goes through the Cubs will receive as decent of value as you can expect for Lee.  It won't be staggering...but he isn't of staggering value.

Didn't want to start a new thread for this, but just wanted to take a second to point out that it is coming up on baseball's halfway point, and:

* The San Diego Padres currently have the best record (and best road record) in the National League...
* The San Diego Padres have the largest division lead in the majors (4.5 games)...

That is all. ;D

Who? :)

I'm curious to hear where you guy's think Cliff lee will be finishing this season?

If he gets traded, the only dancing partner that makes sense is New York.  Texas needs him more, they are in a bad place money wise / team sale wise.  There are 5-6 landed places that look appealing, I see the Yankees making a push for him.

Boston could emerge as a contender to nab him, however with the injuries piling up they would be wise to do make any moves that would include giving up anything on the farm.  Crazy how banged up that team is:

Hermida
Ellsbury
Beckett
Buccholz
V-Mart
Pedroia
...the list goes on.

^^ I've heard the Mets, and Twins are interested,and with the way the W. Sox are playing, I think they'll need to do something....

NY as in the Yanks or Mets? The Mets make sense, but not the Yankees. Even though Burnett has been terrible, he is still making $18 Million and unbenchable.

You aren't serious, are you?  Of course he's benchable.  And the Yankees could actually get something in return for Burnett if they ate some of this contract.  The Yankees payroll, as built now, could absorb what is left of Lee's deal this year.

  I can honestly see him going back to Philly again. Philly is going to have to swallow a big turd though to make it happen.  Its either going to be Philly or the Mets I predict. 

He is deserving of it no doubt, but you still have to have him on your team for 3 1/2 years, he won't forgive you for that. A trading partner is unlikely without eating 80% of his salary.

Lee may very well be a Yankee, but it will be in 2011. Cashman doesn't like paying twice for a player; first ion prospects and then in salary. It will be tough to see him go to Tampa Bay or Minnesota, but if they won a World Series last year with 3 starters, they can do it again.

There have been rumors of Upton for Lee in Tampa.

It will take more than Upton to get Lee,Upton + prospects..... The Mariners are asking an arm and a leg for him...Lee's relatively cheap (versus say Roy Oswalt), and pretty much everyone within 5 games of a division lead has been rumored to be interested in Cliff Lee...

IMO Cubs Wise, I don't see Derrick Lee going anywhere, Fukudome is too expensive (though I wouldn't mind seeing him go),Theriot, Fontenot, Baker are about 50% chance one of them will be moved.Nady is probably 75%+, Lilly is Probably gone 60%...

Modified to add..I'm curious to see what the Blue Jays bullpen will get them if they start selling....

According To Buster Onley's Twitter feed Cliff Lee to the Yankees almost a done deal..... :'(

I read something a few weeks back where the Mariners were interested in some minor league second baseman prospect that the Yankees have. According to the article I read, he was like the 22nd ranked prospect in the Yankees organization, so they would gladly give him up.

Yeah the deal that I've read tweets,and Rumored to be...Catching Prospect Jesus Montero,second base prospect and David Adams (The guy you mentioned Philly),and possibly another prospect...
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/hardball/updating_info_on_lee_volume_hwjwpZUEzOwbYu0usc68YP (http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/hardball/updating_info_on_lee_volume_hwjwpZUEzOwbYu0usc68YP)

One report mentioned the Rangers Salty and Smoak,or Chris Davis were being batted around....in a possible trade....

SI's Jon Heyman tweets,that Seattle didn't accept the offer from the Yankees!...Woohooo...Cliff Lee is still in Play....
http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/status/18143663327 (http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/status/18143663327)

Lee dealt to the Rangers.
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6270335/23100006?tag=comBlogEntryListCnt;entry23100006

Trading Lee to a divisional rival is the epitome of waving the white flag. Everyone knew they were screwed, but now the fans have no reason to attend games.

Montero and Smoak are essentially the same level of prospect, but Montero is 2 years younger and a catcher, not a 1B. The secondary pieces are essentially nothing special from both the Rangers and Yankees. McAllister may turn out to be a good starter, but I never even heard of Adams until today. The Rangers secondary pieces are equally nothing, if not moreso, AND Seattle is giving Texas $2.5 Million.

This is just a case of Seattle not wanting to make the defending champs that much better. There is no baseball reason to choose Texas' offer over NY's. I can totally understand that.

It just seems to me, that everyone thinks the guy's they want to trade are platinum,and they want everything but the kitchen sink to get a deal done.The sellers are trying to commit armed robbery on every deal,I admit, most people on the the market aren't game changers, more like reinforcements...They should be dealt that way....

(Sorry for thinking out loud there....I've just been reading a lot of rumors lately that seem that way...)

Despite the fact that pitching is San Diego's biggest strength, I admit that I secretly wanted them to go after Cliff Lee hard. I really like pitchers who don't walk hitters, and Lee is a beast in that department. It would have made sense, with the Padres already looking to keep wunderkind Mat Latos' innings down (they just put him on 15 day DL as part of that strategy).

Going into the playoffs with Cliff Lee and Mat Latos anchoring the rotation would've been sweeeeet. ;D

The Red Sox just got 1st,and 3rd baseman Jack Hannahan from Seattle
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/07/red_sox_acquire_2.html (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/07/red_sox_acquire_2.html)

Alberto Callaspo to the Angels....for RHP Sean O'Sullivan and minor-league LHP Will Smith According to Bob Sutton (of the KC Star twitter feed)

^^Oh boy.  The division chase is over now.  Thanks, Theo!  Just what the Red Sox needed.  Another light hitting basement bargain shopping "who the fuck is that" player to join the ranks of Kevin Cash, Daniel Nava, Eric Patterson and Darnell McDonald.

THIS guy is hitting .238.

In AAA.

What a great trade.

^^^I'll trade you Jim Hendry for Theo +Cash.....Deal? :D

D'backs traded Haren to Angels for Joe Saunders, Patrick Corbin, Rafael Rodriguez and a player to be named

According the Mercury news Andrew Baggerly's twitter account....

There is a reason why teams like the Mariners and Diamondbacks are in last place. They have no idea how to make a trade that helps their own team.

Joe Saunders is the centerpiece of this trade? He is a back of the rotation innings eater. He had one good season and is the definition of "average". Not only that, but he will start making bigger arbitration money after the season. Talking about $6 Million first year, $9 Million next year and then free agency. He isn't a bad pitcher. Innings eaters do have their value, but you just traded Dan Haren who is under contract for the next 3 years at reasonable money for this guy?

Cashman must really be a jerk to deal with if all of these GM's are taking lesser deals just to not have to trade their players to the Yankees.

On the field, this helps the Angels, but not a whole lot unless Texas falters a ton.

^^^^

First off:

Haren, 2010:  4.60 ERA, 1.348 WHIP.  141 IP.  He's making $8,250,000 this season.

Saunders, 2010:  4.62 ERA, 1.492 WHIP. 122 IP.  He's making $3,700,000 this season.

For THIS season (one where Arizona is going nowhere) they basically traded Haren for himself and lowered their payroll by over $5,000,000 in one move.

Is Haren going to make a huge difference over Saunders next season?  Nope.  He'll be cheaper though.

Patrick Corbin has a chance to be a very good middle relief, set up type pitcher.  He's BB/9 is 2.1, SO/9 is 8.3 and SO/BB is 3.90 in the minors so far.  1.255 WHIP and he played in some real ping pong ball parks thus far.  I think I could golf one out at Quakes Stadium batting lefty (I'm a righty).  This season he's sporting a nifty 3.88 ERA in his first season in high A ball.

I don't think this was a terrible trade at all.

Buster Onley Via Twitter, Carlos Zambrano Available...

Anyone give us......

a Flaming bag of Poo? anyone? anyone?

Right, We'll pay 3/4 of the 50 mil we owe him....and get shit back in return.... :-\ >:(

Apparently the Phillies and Astros are just waiting on Oswalt's OK for a trade to happen.

This trade just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

For one, its practically an admission that it was a mistake to trade Lee in December. Lee is a much better player, and the team would've been better off, even if they just had Lee for this season and then lost him to free agency (which is why they said they traded him). Amaro has been highly criticized for making that trade, and everyone says he should've kept Lee- except for Amaro!

Secondly, the trade supposedly includes pitcher J.A. Happ, who is a great young player, and had an amazing rookie season last year. I know you need to give something up to get something, and that Happ has been injured most of this year, but I wish they could make the trade without losing him.

^^ I'm reading Happ, and 2 prospects
http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/statuses/19822365067 (http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/statuses/19822365067)

But also read that the Astros are paying a hefty chunk of Oswalt's salary...

 Jorge Cantu to the Rangers for RHP Evan Reed & Double A RHP Omar Poveda
According Rosenthal twittter...
http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/19852408742 (http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/19852408742)

The Blue jays send Brett Wallace to the Astros,for Anthony Gose (who the Astros just got in the Oswalt trade)
http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/19853461575 (http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/19853461575)

Hijack/
I think the Cubs should make a trade with Cleveland for Minor league pitcher Giovanni Soto,Just so we can have Giovanni Soto Pitching to Geovany Soto the Catcher...
//End hijack

(Giovanni Soto was traded from Detroit to Cleveland for Peralta)

Padres Acquire Miguel Tejada for pitcher Wynn Pezler

According to Corey Brock of MLB.com Twitter account...
http://twitter.com/FollowThePadres/status/19856761281 (http://twitter.com/FollowThePadres/status/19856761281)

So happy the Cardinals did not give up Shelby Miller for Oswalt and his huge price tag.

Typical marlins. Sellers not buyers. The firesale has begun. Look for Dan uggla next. The marlins management is such a joke.

^^ they joked last night on MLB tonight, Cantu says he wants to resign with the Marlins after the season...Trade him, get the prospects, and he resigns for next year...Win, Win!

Matt Capps traded to the Twins for  Triple-A catcher Wilson Ramos,and LHP Joe Testa (the Twins mentioned that the will get cash also)
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6270335/23524606?tag=mccBlogView;comBlogEntryListMiniCnt (http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6270335/23524606?tag=mccBlogView;comBlogEntryListMiniCnt)

Astros not only traded Oswalt to the Phillies, they gave them $11 million dollars! Oswalt has about $5M left this year, and is due $16M next year. Knock the $11M off, and the Phillies have him for $5M next season.

If the Oswalt trade happened in a Fantasy League, the other players would veto it. So, not only did you not get Philly's top prospects, but you are paying them $11 Million to take Oswalt off your hands? THAT was the best offer? The Yankees or Red Sox or Rangers or anyone else couldn't do better than THAT?

Ed Wade is still working for the Phillies.

Oswalt was a good trade for Philly, HOWEVER...

They should have just held on to Lee.

The White sox have acquired Edwin Jackson for Daniel Hudson and Pitching Prospect David Homberg.....

(I read from different places, that the W.Sox were trying to get Brett Myers, and or Berkman, The Edwin Jackson deal wasn't gonna happen because Kenny Williams was working "Something Bigger" So Just passing on some of the rumors.....)

It's also Rumored that Jackson was aquired to try to get dunn, but Gammons reported the Nationals are just So so on Jackson....

Still extremely happy that they did not give up Shelby Miller.

No doubt. Even though they would've lost him to free agency this offseason.

I hated Wade when he was the Phillies GM, but love him now.

I heard a funny thing on a local sports radio station yesterday. The host said that Ed Wade guaranteed himself two things by making this trade: 1-he will be looking for a job this winter; 2- someday down the road he will have some sort of cushy job with the Phillies.

RUMORED TRADE....The Dodger are trying to get Lily,earlier today it was rumored to be Theriot and Lilly, but reports are Lilly and a potion player,not Theriot....

Personally, I know they aren't worth as much (none are really worth damn ) I'd rather trade Fontenot, Baker, Fukudome, or Nady before I had to trade Theriot....


Rangers Acquire Cristian Guzman from the Nationals for prospects,according to MLB.com's
Bill Ladson
http://therocket.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/07/guzman_traded_to_the_nats_for.html (http://therocket.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/07/guzman_traded_to_the_nats_for.html)

Rumors that Berkman to the Yankees heating up fast, Buster Onley, and Joel Sherman of NY Post Reporting....


Hijack
***I Hope*** the Rays Counter by Getting Adam Dunn! ****
End Hijack

Yah! the Cubs Released Bob Howry! Woohoo..Dancing around the room...I thought this was a terrible pick up.....He sucked when we let him go,he made the rounds, Sucked this year with the D'backs...So why do the Cubs pick him up...Hendry's an Efff'n.eff'n idiot.....

The Yankees get Lance Berkman for some nobody and Mark Melancon, who is a very good relief pitching prospect. This year he has been mediocre, but he has KILLED the minor leagues.

Oh, and the Astros are giving the Yankees $4 Million. Yes, the Houston Astros are GIVING THE NEW YORK YANKEES $4 MILLION TO TAKE ONE OF THEIR PLAYERS.

That shouldn't even be allowed in MLB. Oh well, nice pickup for the Yanks.

Padres add a second veteran hitter to go along with Tejada, and even though the consensus seems to be that we got him for a song, one of the two minor league prospects we gave up was Corey Kluber, who is a decent righty who was leading the texas league in K's this season.

I think Collettis Robbed Hendry....Lilly, and Theriot +2.5 Million, for Dewitt, and two minor league pitchers Brett Wallach, and Kyle Smit...

There was  a rumor the Cubs turned down Theriot,and James Russell for D'backs Kelly Johnson.....

J. Hermida DFA by the Red Sox...Kerry Wood to the Yankees for Player to be named later....Cleveland kicking money To the Yanks.... :o

Will Ohman to the Marlins....for Pitcher Rick Vandenhurk

Ankiel,and Farnsworth to the Braves...for  P Jesse Chavez, OF Gregor Blanco, and Tim Collins...

Cardinals pick up Jake Westbrook and send Ryan Ludwick to San Diego in a 3 team deal.  I liked Ludwick but we are overrun with outfielders and Jon Jay has been hitting up a storm.  I hope Westbrook can help solidify the rotation.

Christ, the Yankees are getting checks this deadline. I think overhaul they did pretty well and stuck to their philosophy of protecting the farm and not going long term unless they are a superstar.

They also DFA'd Chan Ho Park, which helps the team immensely.

The Yankees didn't do anything to help them at the deadline.  Not a thing.

1 - Berkman would have been a good pick up four years ago.  He showed his liability in the field this weekend.  He is a .250 hitter at this point with marginal to not power.

2 - Kerry Wood?  Eeck.  21 innings pitched this year, 22 hits, 14 earned runs.  This, to go along with about six trips to the 15 day DL for issues from back spasms to (latest) finger blister.

Kearns, however, gives them some nice depth.

I was shocked by the Rays not doing anything outside of an awful piece to add to their bullpen (Qualls and his 8.00+ ERA).  This had to be a depth move only.  Rays starting rotation is very good.  Bullpen is very good.  Line up?  It's good, but they really needed another bat.  The Rays needed some thunder in that line up.

The Red Sox non-moves make sense to me in this regard:

Offense - They just got Victor back and saw immediate returns.  He came back just in time for the Angel series and the offense looked different in a second.  Ellsbury will be back today or tomorrow.  In his minor league rehab he's hitting over .350 and has four stolen bags.  His timing is looking okay.  I believe Boston is about this (-) close to placing Cameron on the 60 day DL and letting the guy get the surgery he needs, hence the Kalish call up.  Kalish is actually faster than Ellsbury but built like a bulldog.  He is quietly been Boston's most intriguing prospect for a couple of years.  AAA this year he's hitting .294 / 19 / 84 and amazing defense.  With Ellsbury back the Sox can afford to carry an outfield of him, Drew and a platoon of McDonald / Patterson / Kalish.

Bullpen - here is where Boston needed to upgrade.  Nothing out there, however.  Scott Downs?  Nice addition, too expensive.  The Sox have some in house help that they hope are ready to go.

Add to the list that Pedey is a couple weeks out and Boston's schedule (Cleveland, Seattle types) over the next three weeks - Boston could make a charge at this.

All that said, there is one team that quietly made a move that could tilt the entire balance of the Wild Card chase.  The Twins obtained Capps from Washington.  They are now sitting at 6.5 out of the wild card and have an amazingly easy August and September.  Won 8 in a row, 9-1 in last ten.  This move...this one little move...was huge.  Brilliant.  And could have either Boston, TB or NYY on the outside looking in come October.  Everyone's talking about the AL East, and they should.  White Sox and Twins are in a position where they could both creep up in that Wild Card.  They finish out the year with the likes of  Cleveland and Kansas City while Boston / New York / TB all have to play each other.

That one move, adding Capps to a already strong bullpen, could have tilted the entire power balance away from the AL East.

The Yankees helped themselves, just not dramatically. Berkman is still good against righties and would be an excellent DH platoon with Marcus Thames who kills lefties. In the field, they are collectively an atrocity. I didn't need to see yesterday's game to know how bad Fat Elvis was in the field. Words can't even describe his field play.

Kearns is just an upgrade over what they had. He has been pretty good the last 6 weeks too, so who knows?

Wood has been very unlucky with BABIP, but he is still Kerry Wood and I have no delusions about what he can bring. Best case scenario, is he stays healthy and gets motivated from a pennant race. The more likely scenario is he becomes the new Chan Ho Park.

The Red Sox didn't make moves because they have half their roster on the DL and you don't want to sacrifice too much of the farm system when you are 7 games back in August. Not insurmountable, but not too likely either.

Maine,I'm curious what you'd think if the Red Sox had gotten Wood, and Berkman...The reason why I ask According to Buster Onley the Redsox and Rays were trying to acquired them both before the Yankees got them.....Would you feel different about them?
http://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/20021547430 (http://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/20021547430)

I thought the Kerry Wood move probably shocked me the most,I thought he might get traded for a hill of beans in August... (The news someone was trying to get Manny, slight raise of the eyebrow)

^

No.  I also don't believe Boston ever wanted Berkman.  Where would he play?  He can't play 2nd effectively.  Even if he could, Boston has Lowrie / Hall platoon right now with Pedey back in two weeks.  He can't play third.  And, even if he could -- Beltre is not coming out for the rest of the year.  He can play 1st, however Boston has Youk there and Victor spots him at first.

Kerry Wood is a gas can and Boston already has too many of those in the bullpen...and shipped one (RamRam) to the Giants.  I don't think he's any better than what Boston could do internally to improve in that area (Bowden, Richardson, Dubront).  Adding Kerry Wood to an already shakey (at best) bullpen would be a massive fail.  Scott Downs?  Yes, would have loved him.  Adam Dunn?  Yes, would have loved him - for the pure power / thunder his bat brings.  Berkman and Wood?  Boston is a sinking ship right now and those guys would have just added weight to it.

Thanks for the Clarification Mane, Sorry if it came off as Snarky.... :-[

It's kind of the same way I feel about the Dodger adding Lilly,and Theriot....

Not snarky at all, valid question.  I think Kerry Wood pick up of 2010 is going to amount of Boston's pick up of Eric Gagne in 2007.  Yankees fans are going to regret this guy ever coming on board.

Kerry Wood has pitched 20.2 Innings as a Yankee and has a 0.40 ERA with the team.

It's a testament to how bad the rest of them have played that it hasn't mattered much, but have to credit Kerry here as well as Cashman. Putting him in the middle of a pennant race has lit a fire underneath him.