Trade Deadline Random Thoughts/Rumors

[MVPete]

Got a little less than 6 days left. Throw anything in here you would like to see your team do or not do, or any rumors you come across. If something goes down give the trade it's own thread, and keep it out of here.

 

[Matt]

Chicago Cubs right-hander Matt Garza and Seattle Mariners lefty Jason Vargas are two names Stark mentions for the Orioles, and the likes of Joe Blanton, Francisco Liriano and perhaps Shaun Marcum could be of interest.

 

[MVPete]

For the Rays I'm seeing all sorts of weird rumors of what they might do.

-Apparently every one of their right handed starters is available, and teams are also inquiring about Wade Davis. Davis was a starter last year and his numbers have been real impress so far this year out of the pen.

-BJ Upton is most likely available, as they can move Jennings to center and use Zobrist/Joyce/Fuld etc. at the corners. One rumor was BJ Upton for Morse, but they would most likely have to include Davis to make that happen as Morse has been hitting well, and Bernadina as well. Davis would help fill the gap when Strasburg is shut down.

-This Shields to the Angels rumor still lingers, and now Ervin Santana might get sent back to Tampa in the deal.
@MikeDiGiovanna "Change of pitching plans for #Angels: Santana will not start Friday vs. #Rays so he can get some power bullpen sessions in."

Not sure what that means, but Tampa will be in Anaheim this week. Maybe they will watch him throw and make a decision? I'd be surprised if they took him, but they might try and fix him and flip him in the off season.

-For the Marlins I've been hearing Josh Johnson to Texas for Mike Olt and more. You know Ryan loves those power pitchers and Johnson's shoulder is slowly getting it's strength back. I'd really hate to see JJ leave because he reminded me of Beckett right after he left, but this would help them get their left side set for awhile.

 

[Goober]

If the Brewers can't sign Greinke, then Hart, Rodriguez, Ramirez, Loe, Parra, and Wolf all need to go too.

 

[EmpireWF]

Well, the Mets are fucked. Would not be surprised to see them deal Daniel Murphy, Tim Byrdak or Scott Hairston (the latter two are free agents at the end of the year).

Murphy should be able to bring them a good reliever back.

 

[Slateman]

The Nationals need to seriously look in to upgrading the catcher position. Flores is woeful with the bat and Leon isn't ready. Jaso would be nice. Not sure who else would be available

 

[MVPete]

The Nationals need to seriously look in to upgrading the catcher position. Flores is woeful with the bat and Leon isn't ready. Jaso would be nice. Not sure who else would be available

Jaso can't hit lefties, and Flores has trouble vs them as well for some reason(as a righty? :edlover. If they can find a seasoned backup to rotate with Flores it may pay off in the final month. Werth is back soon so the main focus should be a starter who can take Strasburg's spot once he's shut down.

 

[Slateman]

I'll take being able to hit righties vs. Not being able to hit anyone.

Maybe one of the Brewers catchers?

Fuck it. Just put Hapah behind the dish.

 

[MVPete]

I'll take being able to hit righties vs. Not being able to hit anyone.

Maybe one of the Brewers catchers?

Fuck it. Just put Hapah behind the dish.

Ramon Hernandez, Nick Hundley I'm sure would be available. Basically any team that is out of it would listen to offers for guys that they won't back next year.

 

[Slateman]

They'll work too. Honestly whoever will take Henry Rodriguez in trade for a catcher will work.

 

[Goober]

I'll take being able to hit righties vs. Not being able to hit anyone.

Maybe one of the Brewers catchers?

Fuck it. Just put Hapah behind the dish.

George Kottaras designated for assignment today, Brewers trying to find him a spot on a major league team.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Ramon Hernandez, Nick Hundley I'm sure would be available. Basically any team that is out of it would listen to offers for guys that they won't back next year.

Razor Ramon is actually signed for 2013, which is why COL has had some trouble finding him a landing spot.

 

[SuperKevin]

The Nationals need to seriously look in to upgrading the catcher position. Flores is woeful with the bat and Leon isn't ready. Jaso would be nice. Not sure who else would be available

Umm no need to trade for a catcher. We get Wilson Ramos back next year. This team doesn't need offense behind the plate. They just need someone who can handle the stud pitchers.

 

[MVPete]

Umm no need to trade for a catcher. We get Wilson Ramos back next year. This team doesn't need offense behind the plate. They just need someone who can handle the stud pitchers.

Slateman is under the impression that you need an All star at every position to compete. He's still mad they didn't sign Prince Fielder.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

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Liriano looks like a strong possibility. Only thing is that any deal the Orioles make, I want them to make it not just for this year, but beyond. So both Vargas and Garza would be strong possibilities.

The problem for the Orioles is that they don't want to give up Bundy or Machado. Their only recourse is to find someone like Hanley Ramirez, who is struggling and has a high salary, and for the Orioles to take on the money and send minimal prospects over to the other team. This just proves how much work the Orioles still have to do in the minor league system and continue building their depth.

 

[Goober]

 

[ThomasTomasz]

The Marlins appear to have set an extremely high asking price for Josh Johnson, Jon Heyman reported today. Here’s the latest on the Marlins and their NL East rivals...

The Marlins are telling teams Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle are off-limits, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. They feel committed to Buehrle and believe Reyes will play better now that Hanley Ramirez has been traded. The Marlins are also sure to keep Giancarlo Stanton, Heyman writes.

The Marlins are reluctant to trade Emilio Bonifacio, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).

The Padres offered to trade Luke Gregerson for Daniel Murphy, but the Mets rejected the possible deal, John Harper of the New York Daily News reports. Gregerson, 28, has a 3.05 ERA with 9.5 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 44 1/3 innings this year. He earns $1.55MM and will remain under team control through 2014.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/07/nl-east-notes-reyes-bonifacio-murphy.html

 

[Slateman]

Umm no need to trade for a catcher. We get Wilson Ramos back next year. This team doesn't need offense behind the plate. They just need someone who can handle the stud pitchers.

I think catchers handling pitchers is vastly overrated. Flores is the backup and the pitchers are fine. They're fine with Maldonado. They're fine with Solano. They're fine with Leon.

Flores defense is meh at best. He is throwing out 12% of base stealers. He's hitting .228/.267/.332

Not everyone has to be an all star, but at a certain point you gotta look at your team and be honest about what you have. Flores ain't cutting it as the starter. He's gotten poor behind the plate. While base-stealers are usually on the pitcher, Flores' inability to throw anyone out is becoming an issue. And, quite simply, he can't hit.

As a backup, he'd be fine. But as the Nats push towards the playoffs, itnwould be nice to have a catcher who can at least achieve two of those three things at the MLB average. Flores isn't.

 

[Goober]

George Kottaras is for you Slateman, second highest OBP among major league catchers this year.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Dempster is the last big name pitcher who is looking to be moved for sure. It seems that Garza's been pulled back, and Josh Johnson and James Shields are having offers listened to but still have a high price tag. Both Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee have entered rumor discussions but I doubt either team decides to move them.

Josh Beckett has 10-5 rights, but the Red Sox are rumored to be listening to offers for him.

I do have to LOL at the Marlins essentially giving up HanRam, and allegedly asking the Orioles for maybe both Bundy and Machado for Johnson. I wouldn't even give both for King Felix, so have fun with that.