Baseball thread No. VII

Rivera is not the extreme example at all. If anything he is the norm.
Most of these guys begin as starters or set-up men and donlt become closers until they're 25, 26, 27.

Papelbon already is 25. BJ Ryan became a closer at age 29. Joe Nathan was a starter then a set-up guy until the Twins got him (and Liriano from the Giants for AJ Pierzynski!) at age 30.

 

I don't think you trade position players for middle relief help. Relievers are fungible commodities. This year's superstar is next year's DFA. You can find middle relievers anywhere. You can create them if you have good coaching. Just ask the Braves or the Cardinals.

You can't find young outfielders with an .850 OPS or 25-year-old shortstops who have won the Silver Slugger as easily. If you want to trade those guys because they're expensive or you don't like them, fine. Just get some significant value in return.

 

Hey Moddy, if Bowden pulls this deal out, he'll earn every penny the Nats are paying him.

Nats, Tigers talking about Soriano

That said, there's no way Dombrowski would make this deal. Sanchez may be the top pitching prospect in AAA and Jurrjens is highly regarded too. Not for a two month rental.

 

Just saying but Atlanta is now just 5.5 games out of the Wild Card.

 

Tigers, Abreu deal close?

Pioneer Press published a report Sunday that the Tigers were close to dealing for Abreu. No mention of the other players involved. And now Yahoo Sports picks up on it.

It's still all rumor mongering, but it's the first time I've seen a published report saying as much.

 

Man.. do they look good.

If Hudson and Thomson ever get straightened out, look out.

 

God, my fantasy team hopes it's Abreu.

This is killing me.

 

The Yahoo piece is just a bunch of rumors. So....

I think Aaron Boone actually gets traded to the Padres where Vinnie Castilla is doing his impersonation of the living dead (not that Boone has been much better) - the Indians want to see what they got in Andy Marte.

I also think that the Diamondbacks have probably talked to the Tigers about Luis Gonzalez. Gonzo is a 10/5 guy and could veto trade but I wonder if he'd want to go back to Detroit.

 

McCann big-time AB.

GS.

Braves on their way again.

 

McCann impresses me every time I watch him. Remember, he's doing this on a bum wheel, too. Kid's tough and can play. Several All-Star appearances in his future.