2012 MLB Regular Season Running Thread

I know the owners have their financial issues, but if a New York team in a relatively new ballpark can't keep a player like David Wright, they should close up shop and quit right now.

 

My first reaction to the Dodgers getting Hanley Ramirez was "whoa!!" But thinking deeper, here's a guy who has hit .246 for the past year and a half, while he's in his prime at 28. He's a malcontent who will sulk his way out of LA as well. If he couldn't play for Fredi Gonzalez, he's going to walk all over Mattingly who seems to be a genuinely nice guy. Not too scared of the Dodgers getting Dempster either, he'll fall victim to the regression to the mean in the 2nd half.

 

I don't think it's a question of if they can keep David Wright. I'm sure they could afford it It's more whether they should.

Wright is having a great season batting .348 with an OPS over 1.000 and 15 HRs. And since he has a club option for next season, a club that trades for him would have him as more than just a rental.

But he's also going to be 31 when he begins his next contract and the Mets have to decide if they think he'll be good enough for long enough to help them when/if they become contenders.

If he can fetch some legit prospects who can speed up the Mets' rebuilding process (and if the Mets can unload Jason Bay's horrific contract with him) I think it's at least worth considering.

The Mets probably don't have any intention of moving him. I'm just spitballing because the ARod injury and Guy's question about Aramis Ramirez's contract got me thinking about third basemen who might be on the move.

 

Regardless of where the Dodgers put Ramirez, he is going to be a legitimate major league hitter at a spot where the team doesn't currently have one. (Uribe or Gordon.) For that reason alone, it should worry us, qt.

But they're the Dodgers, so they'll find a way to mess it all up at the end anyway

 

He's in his prime hitting years (and not hitting well), but he's already in the decline phase for defense for most SS's, and his ability to play SS is/was a big part of his value.

 

Pirates reportedly talking to Royals about Billy Butler.

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/07/20/3715467/pirates-reportedly-interested.html

Kind of odd. I know the Pirates are in need of a few bats, but Butler would be a big defensive liability at first, given he is mostly a DH now. Plus, with Alvarez starting to provide some pop with his bat on a somewhat consistant basis, that would leave Casey McGehee has little more than a pinch hitter and fill in for a corner position from time to time.

The other thing the article mentions, which is interesting, is many teams are starting to get turned off by the Pirates low initial offerings. Of course, Hanley went for what seems to be a steal, so who knows how valid of a complaint that is.

 

The Pirates don't want to offer Cole, Taillon or Marte in trade. And they shouldn't.

Pittsburgh hasn't been in this position in a while... they don't want to mortgage the farm in order to get one player that could get them to the wild-card game. Interesting.

 

For a guy who can't play defense, I would be hesitant to offer any of them in a deal for Butler. Too much of a downside, for the upside that is his bat. I just have to think that there is a better fit out there that would be worth including one or two of those names. Of course, the Upton talk seems to be dead, for now.

 

At the risk of starting another fire....

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/19653873/no-one-knows-the-right-call-on-strasburg-but-nats-are-playing-it-smart-by-shutting-him-down

 

Devil knows.

 

The arm is a muscle. Work it, baby, work it!