SB Nation User Blog: faketeams

MLB Trade Rumors: Chicago White Sox And San Francisco Giants Looking To Trade?

faketeams — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:06:02 -0000

Are you following Will Carroll on Twitter yet? He tweets:

injuryexpert Giants and White Sox want to make deal quick. Williams always bold, but Sabean?

The Giants want hitting and have pitching to offer. In this market, I have a hard time believing the Giants would give pitching for a bat like Josh Fields and/or Brian N. Anderson.

That leaves me thinking of the Southsiders better known bats who own gloves - Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye. Each is signed through 2010. (Yes, Dye has a mutual option at $12MM. Splitting hairs in pursuit of rumor mongering?) Either makes sense for the hitting-starved Giants.

Poll

Can the Giants land either Jermaine Dye or Paul Konerko with a pitching package led by Jonathan Sanchez?

MLB Trade Rumors: Seattle Mariners, Garrett Atkins And The Pittsburgh Pirates Not Done Yet?

faketeams — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:11:22 -0000

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP

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The Seattle Times peculates the Mariners could deal for Colorado Rockies' 3B Garrett Atkins of part of the package leaving Seattle includes pitcher Miguel Batista. This follows earlier reports that the San Diego Padres were having discussions about dealing 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff.

Either player would offer more than the current situation of Chris Woodward and others who can't wrest the position from him. The question, as always, will revolve around finances and prospects involved. With the Mariners having no 3B solutions for 2010, Atkins (3rd year arbitration eligible) or Kouzmanoff (1st year) would settle the situation, too.

Expect that to be included in any trade proposal from the Rockies or Padres.

In others trade rumors, SBNation's MLB Daily Dish reports sources have confirmed the Minnesota Twins are interested in Pittsburgh Pirates' veterans Freddy Sanchez and Matt Capps. While neither is mentioned in the local papers, the interest seems plausible.

2B Alexi Casilla has failed miserably following last season's breakout and 3B Joe Crede can't hit despite double digit HRs. Sanchez would offer improvements at either position. As for Capps, I highly doubt the Twins would meet the price tag of a proven, 25-year-old closer.

Poll

Who are the Mariners better off acquiring?

Rany Jazayerli, of Baseball Prospectus and Rany on the Royals fame, has been banned by the team for...

faketeams — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:38:31 -0000

Rany Jazayerli, of Baseball Prospectus and Rany on the Royals fame, has been banned by the team for having the temerity to challenge the job done by the Royals' medical staff.

RotoSynthesis >> Rany Jazayerli, Banned By the Royals

MLB Trade Rumors: Will the Milwaukee Brewers Deal J.J. Hardy or Corey Hart Now Or In The Off-season?

faketeams — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:51:26 -0000

More photos » by Morry Gash - AP

3 days ago: Milwaukee Brewers' Corey Hart slides safely home during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 30, 2009, in Milwaukee. Hart scored from first on a double by Ryan Braun. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel rites that Milwaukee Brewers' GM Doug Melvin wants to make a trade but is finding it difficult to match-up well with another team's wants. With top prospects Alcides Escobar and Mat Gamel unavailable, one naturally infers there are major league players on the current roster who are just keeping their positions warm until both players are ready for regular playing time.

At SS, J.J. Hardy is the obvious current Brewer blocking Escobar. The more difficult question to answer is which Brewer is blocking Gamel. Is it Prince Fielder at 1B? I doubt that more than I doubt the presence of an honest politician.

How about Bill Hall at 3B? Credible but one wonders whether Gamel has the defensive chops to play everyday. My guess is the Brewers have not forgotten the Ryan Braun experience from 2007.

That leaves the outfield. With Braun entrenched in leftfield and centerfield reserved for excellent fielding players, rightfield is the only place left. Residing in RF is Corey Hart.

Is Corey Hart enough for the Brewers to get starting pitching help? I definitely think so especially if you're talking about Jarrod Washburn types. Entering his second year of arbitration eligibility offers the acquiring team control. The escalation in salary is a concern, but that can be mitigated by acquiring an already "expensive" pitcher.

In other trade news, the Chicago Cubs have reportedly acquired Colorado Rockies' utility cornerman Jeff Baker. With the Cubs forced to play Jake Fox at 3B in hopes of some offense, Baker would be a defensive improvement. While a play-off contender shouldn't be satisfied with that, it could signal 3B Aramis Ramirez may not be ready for longer than the fans have been lead to believe.

Poll

Should the Brewers deal J.J. Hardy or Corey Hart now or wait until the off-season?

OT: Arthurian Legend For 21st Century

faketeams — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:35:06 -0000

The story of King Arthur contains the archetype of greatness being uncovered amongst the most humble and desperate of situations. It is the basic framework of epic fantasy i.e. Lord of the Rings and finds itself being remade for audiences of all bents i.e. Cinderella.

America's Got Talent plays exactly on the same theme. Here is this season's King Arthur, Kevin Skinner.

MLB Trade Rumors: Elijah Dukes Next?

faketeams — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:44:40 -0000

More photos » by Brian Blanco - AP

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A day after trading Lastings Milledge, one of its most talented players, the Washington Nationals have demoted OF Elijah Dukes to AAA. Dukes was the Nationals most talented outfielder combining power, speed, plate discipline and defense. At least those were his calling cards entering 2009.

Can the Nationals expect a similar return for Dukes that Milledge brought? Given both players are talented with reputations for clubhouse discord, one needs to ask how many more teams can take the same chances on upside that the Pittsburgh Pirates did with Milledge.

The Kansas City Royals? The Toronto Blue Jays? San Francisco Giants?

Poll

Would you take a chance on Elijah Dukes?

MLB Trade Rumors: Nyjer Morgan For Lastings Milledge

faketeams — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:38:16 -0000

More photos » by Charles Cherney - AP

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If you're not following Will Carroll on Twitter, well, you're a little behind the knowledge curve. Here is one of his latest tweets:

injuryexpertRT @jperrotto: Am told Morgan trade will either go down in next 24 hrs. or won't happen.

Do the Pittsburgh Pirates have the strong clubhouse personalities to handle Lastings Milledge, a player whose act has worn thin in two organizations already? Or does that even matter given his potential?

Poll

Lastings Milledge?

MLB Trade Rumors: New York Yankees Acquire Eric Hinske

faketeams — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:45:12 -0000

More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

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According to @dejan_kovacevic on Twitter, the Pittsburgh Pirates have traded Eric Hinske to the New York Yankees for a couple of minor leaguers Eric Fryer, a 23-year-old outfielder whose power has disappeared this season , and Casey Erickson, a 23-year-old reliever. Both players are in A ball.

This looks like pure and simple bench depth. While speculating that Alex Rodriguez may be more hurt makes for better copy, I can't see Hinske being an answer thanks to his defense.

But you never know, right?

Poll

Why?

Who Are the Other 103 Players Who Tested Positive For Steroids In 2003?

faketeams — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:49:27 -0000

Rotoinfo.com has a list of the other 103 players who tested positive for steroids when Alex Rodriguez did. I suspect it is educated guesswork but can no longer trust MLB to tell the truth. Personally, if this is the list, the long-term effect will be to make the stain of steroid usage so wide spread as to be meaningless.

Poll

Do you think this list is real?

Alex Rodriguez Or Ben Zobrist

faketeams — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:47:17 -0000

More photos » by Steve Nesius - AP

about 1 month ago: Tampa Bay Rays' Ben Zobrist, right, celebrates as he rounds third base after hitting a two-run pinch-hit homer off Oakland Athletics reliever Andrew Bailey to tie the game during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 21, 2009, in St. Petersburg, Fla.The Rays came from behind to beat the Athletics 6-5. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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After watching New York Yankees' 3B Alex Rodriguez wince after making a diving stop, and listening to ESPN's Steve Phillips describe the same as celebratory, I immediately thought, "Uh-oh. The hip still hurts." Then, I thought, "How unobservant is Steve Phillips that he sees celebrations where I see pain."

Regardless of Phillip's ability to contextualize, I began to wonder how much of a discount I would accept in return for Alex Rodriguez in a standard mixed league. Many people may not be at the point I am where I have already concluded that ARod's 2009 performance is a signal he is hurting. After all, the team says he isn't.

So I asked myself if I'd take Tampa Bay Rays' 2B/SS/OF Ben Zobrist for 3B Alex Rodriguez straight-up. The current production of each screams, "Yes!" but I'm not 100% sold. Are you?

	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2009 - Ben Zobrist	69	209	43	60	14	4	16	45	40	47	8	2	.287	.404	.622

	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2009 - Alex Rodriguez	46	155	23	36	6	0	11	37	39	28	2	0	.232	.399	.484

Poll

SB Nation User Blog: faketeams

MLB Trade Rumors: Chicago White Sox And San Francisco Giants Looking To Trade?

Can the Giants land either Jermaine Dye or Paul Konerko with a pitching package led by Jonathan Sanchez?

MLB Trade Rumors: Seattle Mariners, Garrett Atkins And The Pittsburgh Pirates Not Done Yet?

Who are the Mariners better off acquiring?

Rany Jazayerli, of Baseball Prospectus and Rany on the Royals fame, has been banned by the team for...

MLB Trade Rumors: Will the Milwaukee Brewers Deal J.J. Hardy or Corey Hart Now Or In The Off-season?

Should the Brewers deal J.J. Hardy or Corey Hart now or wait until the off-season?

OT: Arthurian Legend For 21st Century

MLB Trade Rumors: Elijah Dukes Next?

Would you take a chance on Elijah Dukes?

MLB Trade Rumors: Nyjer Morgan For Lastings Milledge

Lastings Milledge?

MLB Trade Rumors: New York Yankees Acquire Eric Hinske

Why?

Who Are the Other 103 Players Who Tested Positive For Steroids In 2003?

Do you think this list is real?

Alex Rodriguez Or Ben Zobrist

Would you trade Alex Rodriguex straight-up for Ben Zobrist in a standard, non-keeper mixed league?