Hot Stove Thread

Jurrjens is a legit top-flight pitching prospect.

I know nothing about Gorkys Hernandez.

 

Jurrjens had five or six innings of no-hit ball this season.

Braves are dumping salary. Maybe to pay for Teixeira. It sure as hell ain't for Rodriguez.

 

Nevermind my last post. If Jurrjens is a legit prospect, then it's fine. I forgot the Braves had Martin Prado, who hit .300 in AAA ball last year and played up with the big club some, and Yunel Escobar, who was very solid in his ML experience and hit .333 in Richmond.

Both are middle infielders.

So it's likely that one of them -- most likely Escobar -- takes over at short. If Prado can play, Kelly Johnson could move back to left and Willie Harris to center if the Braves want to spend all their money on pitching. It would be a softer lineup, for sure, but it may work.

Lee, I know it's not for A-Rod. I was responding to spnited's "Do they need a 30 million dollar shortstop" quip.

 

Sorry, I was in the reading room.

 

Don't forget, the Braves have Yunel Escobar ready to go at short. He was impressive filling in at 3B, SS and 2B.

 

That was settled before this move. They've been exploring options at shortstop, but Guillen was moving and Casey was moving out no matter what.

I like this one for both teams. Detroit gets a good all-around shortstop to take Guillen's place. Atlanta trades from a position of stregth to add a major-league ready pitching prospect and clears salary in the process.

 

Boy, you leave for 20 minutes to interview a Juco coach and the Tigers trade for Renteria.

Forget what I said about bringing ARod to Detroit. Way to make me look like an idiot Dombrowski. I think I like the deal, though. Anyone have any idea how long Renteria is on the hook?

re: Gorkys Hernandez. I believe he's about 20 and one of the Tigers' top low-minor outfield prospects.


Edit: Renteria is on the books for 9 million in 08 and has a 12 million club option for 09.

And, the Freep's John Lowe says Hernandez was one of the top four prospects in the organization.

 

I hate to see Renteria go, because he was easily the Braves' most consistent hitter until he got hurt, but I think this deal is part of a larger plan for Atlanta.

And that plan is: pitching, pitching, pitching. Or, it better be.

If they re-sign Tex, and possibly Torii Hunter, the offense will be fine assuming normal production (and ... as always ... the health of Chipper.) I like Escobar at short; he's got a lot to learn but he could be very good. If not, the Braves have a few other high-level infield prospects to plug in, like Prado, Brent Lillibridge and J.C. Holt.

Kelly Johnson stays at second, Matt Diaz in left. Maybe Hernandez -- the Class A Midwest League MVP at age 19 this year -- will be ready in a year. A lot of good people are saying a lot of good things about him today.

But now, they look for pitching ...

 

I'll just throw this out there for anyone not 3,000 miles from Cleveland --- Any rumblings on what the Indians might do? Their biggest need seems to be in LF, but what can they reasonably get there?

 

Hey Buck, is Renteria still a good defensive shortstop, or is he past his prime?

This trade is probably good for the Tigers now, but in a few years...I'm worried about the whole John Smoltz thing all over. And Gorkys sounds like he might even be the bigger prize...54 steals and two GIDPs.

I really thought Jurrjens was gonna start next season. So, are the Tigers gonna be in the market for a starter now?

Verlander, Bonderman, Robertson and two maybes (Rogers and Miller).

 

Joe Nathan won't be going anywhere, Twins picked up his option.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/10/29/nathan.option.ap/index.html

 

That was a done deal, but glad to see it finalized.

Of guys not named Papelbon, he's who I'd want.