According to SI, the Padres have agreed to trade Jake Peavy to the White Sox:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/05/21/peavy.trade/index.html

The question is, who're the Pads getting back?

Beckham, Jordan Danks, Dan Hudson & Dexter Carter can't be traded yet.  Poreda looks like a shoo-in.  Brandon Allen maybe, but they already have Blanks there.  Maybe Tyler Flowers?  Chris Getz?  What package do you think would be fair?  Pads could use a lot, but Sox don't look like they have much to give, unless they deal one their own SP like Gavin Floyd.

Shortstop Carlos Triunfel, considered by some to be the best player in the Seattle minor league system, is serving an indefinite suspension and is not currently on the roster of the Mariners' High Desert team in the California League.

Mariner director of player development Greg Hunter confirmed Monday that Triunfel has been suspended for a violation of team rules and has been sent back to the Mariners' minor league complex in Peoria, Ariz. to serve out the duration of the suspension.

The Mariners aren't saying just what rules were broken, but this suspension has already lasted nine days, so it's apparently not a minor thing.

Triunfel, an 18-year-old signed out of Venezuela, hasn't played in a game since May 10 and Hunter said there was no set date for the suspension to be lifted.

via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/archives/139235.asp?source=rss

Yovani Gallardo is likely done for the season with a torn ACL.

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/05/02/yovani-gallardo-has-a-torn-acl-likely-out-for-the-rest-of-the-s/

"An examination in Milwaukee this morning revealed Gallardo suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in that collision with Chicago's Reed Johnson near first base in the fifth inning. He was placed on the 15-day DL and right-hander Dave Bush was recalled from Class AAA Nashville to replace him.

No decision will be made on surgery until the swelling subsides in Gallardo's knee. But he in all likelihood will miss most if not all the rest of the season, a severe blow to the Brewers' chances in 2008."

Does anyone know where LHP Edward Reynoso, he of Playstation numbers in the Dominican League is going to pitch this year?  I can't find anything on milb or the Tigers site.  I was hoping he'd go to a full-season league, but he may be back in short season again.

For those who don't know him, he's a 19-year old Tigers player who last year threw up these numbers: 70 2/3 ip 36 h 6 er 23 bb & 110 Ks in 13 starts

Thanks.

I was wondering if anybody knows of a site where I can do statistical filters with minor league statistics (for example, if I wanted to find all AA pitchers under 23 years old who pitched at least 100 innings and stuck out over 80 batters).

Thanks.                                                                                                          

This diary was produced by me running across the name Ludovicious Van Mil in a box score.  He's a 7'1"(!) righty in the Twins system.  He's already 22 and only in rookie ball, but I'll sure be rooting for that name to make it to the majors.  What are some of your favorite minor leaguer names?                                                                                                                          

It seems like Mike Cameron is the comp for so many players when comparing prospects.  Here's a rough list of players who have been compared to Cameron by BA or other reputable sources:

Chris Young
Adam Jones
Drew Stubbs
Lastings Milledge

I feel there have been many others as well and I can't think of another player who is used as a comparison as often.

What do you guys think of this potential trade:

Dodgers get Alex Rodriguez

Yankees get Andy LaRoche, James Loney and Jon Meloan

This seems like the type of deal Colleti would love to make and might actually make sense.  LaRoche and Loney would both be blocked in LA and could slide in at the corners in NY; Loney this year, LaRoche the year after.  The Dodgers would be set with A-Rod and Nomar at the corners for the nest 3 years (never mind considering how odd two of the mid-90s SS Mt Rushmore would be on opposite sides of the diamond).  Meloan is a quality RP arm that could help NY this year or next.

I think the talent levels are pretty close.  I'm just not sure if the Yankees would ever trade A-Rod without receiving proven MLB talent.

What do you guys think?

Does clicking on the ads add to your revenue?  Or do you only receive money if the click results in a purchase of some sort?  Also, is there a limit to the number of clicks that can generate revenue/day?  I love this site and can't afford the newsletter yet, but would love to be able to contribute something financially to you and clicking seems rather simple.

I can't remember a year that had such a talented rookie class, so I decided to see if I could put together a full, competitive team made solely of rookies.  Looking at it, I think it would easily make the playoffs and be quite dangerous:

C - Martin
1B - Fielder
2B - Uggla
SS - H. Ramirez
3B - Zimmerman
OF - Ethier
OF - Hermida
OF - Willingham

Bench
Napoli
Jacobs
Kinsler
Markakis
Kubel

SP - Liriano
SP - Verlander
SP - Weaver
SP - J. Johnson
SP - Lester

Bullpen
S. Olsen
A. Sanchez
Saito
R. Ramirez
Wainwright
Zumaya
Papelbon

Durbin, a former top-Twins minor league pitcher who had seen his prospects dwindle, has put together a nice little run.  In his last 6 games, he's allowed only 6 runs over 38 innings.  On the year his ERA is  only 2.42.

Overall in 11 games at AAA Rochester (all starts), he's pitched 63 1/3 innings with 55 Ks (pretty good), 42 hits (not too bad) and 37 BB (not so hot).

Last season he had a 4.33 ERA at AAA with 90K and 51 BB and 97 hits.

Is he putting it together this season?  Will he ever be in the Twins rotation or will he have to be traded?  Does his future lie in relief or starting?

John - Could you do a prospect retro or a "is there any hope for..." on Rafael Soriano?  I seem to remember him being a very hyped prospect coming up and injuries have taken a few seasons from him.  However, he's pitching rather well this season and his overall MLB career numbers are quite good.  Do you see any chance for him to turn it around?  Can he still become a star?

Career numbers 80 games, 131 1/3 IP 105H 11HR 40 BB 137K 3.15 ERA 1.10 WHIP .215 BAA

Does anybody know where this guy is pitching?  I know he had TJ surgery last season, but last I heard he was pitching in the Pirates big league camp.  I assume he'll pitch at AAA this season if healthy with a possible call-up later in the year if he can get back in the swing of things.

Did he re-injure himself?  Is he at extended spring training?  Any help would be appreciated.

As a Dodger fan, I'm rather disappointed in the trade of the two pitchers, but will still follow them.

I don't know the Devil Rays system that well so I was wondering where D-Rays fans think the two will start the season.

Jackson got bombed at AAA and then pitched adequately at AA.  Granted Vegas is a tough place to pitch, but Jackson was giving up almost an ER an inning.  Does TB start him at AA or AAA and in a starting role or relieving role (where some have suggested his future lies)?

Tiffany put up strong numbers in hi-A and might have been bumped up in other organizations.  I think he probably should have been promoted, but Jacksonville's rotation/bullpen were so stacked it would have been tough to find a place for him.

My guess is both start at AA with Tiffany getting promoted to AAA near the all-star break and the major league club calling up Jackson to relieve at some point.

I'd love to hear other's thoughts.

I think Merkin Valdez and J.D. Durbin make an interesting comparison.  Both are guys with great fastballs and solid second pitches (Valdez' change-up, Durbin's curve) that have had trouble mastering a 3rd pitch.  Both are former BA top 100 guys who have dropped from that level due to lack of performance at higher levels and injuries.  Lastly, they both may be better suited to the back-end of a bullpen rather than the back-end of a rotation.

Do you think either sticks as a starter?  If moved to the bullpen, can they become top closers?  8th-inning guys?

Who will have the better career?

Hey guys,

I was just wondering what you guys thought of my minor leage system.  It's in a sim league with 24 teams, each having 25 "minor league" players, which includes some that are currently playing in the majors.  Below is my list (of only players still in the minors), roughly in order of how good I think they are.  Any feedback on order of prospects, system strengths and weaknesses would be appreciated.

thanks guys

1.    Ian Stewart
2.    Stephen Drew
3.    Jason Kubel
4.    Hanley Ramirez
5.    Anibal Sanchez
6.    Russ Martin
7.    Ian Kinsler
8.    Anthony Lerew
9.    Dustin Nippert
10.    Brad Snyder
11.    John VanBenschoten
12.    Ryan Sweeney
13.    Justin Orenduff
14.    J.D. Martin
15.    Merkin Valdez
16.    Franklin Gutierrez
17.    Nelson Cruz
18.    Michael Bourn  
19.    J.D. Durbin
20.    Josh Kroeger

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2251887

"The Nationals have acquired Texas Rangers' second baseman Alfonso Soriano in exchange for Brad Wilkerson, Terrmel Sledge and a minor-leaguer to be named later, ESPN's Peter Gammons reports."

As a Dodger fan, I am ecstatic.  With Vidro already there, Soriano might move to LF.

According to SI.com

"PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Phillies and the White Sox on Friday completed their deal that sends slugger Jim Thome to Chicago for center fielder Aaron Rowand.

The trade was announced on Wednesday, but wasn't official until the players passed their physicals. Philadelphia also gets minor league left-hander Daniel Haigwood and a player to be named later.
The Phillies are giving the White Sox $22 million as part of the deal, a baseball official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the teams did not make that information public."

How does this affect the balance of the trade?

I'm a college student whose absolute dream job would be to be a GM of a major league team.  I was wondering if any of you guys knew the general career path GMs took.  I've done some research, but it's difficult to find how most of these guys got their initial starts.  Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Does anyone know a website where I can compare split performance amongst major-league players?  For example, if I was trying to find out which third baseman had the highest OBP vs. RHP or what catcher had the highest BA with RISP, does anyone know where I would look?

Thanks.                                                                                                      

If you had to choose one of the top 3 Sox pitching prospects who would it be?

Papelbon, the only one currently in AAA
Lester, the lone lefty and youngest
Sanchez, disgusting numbers in hi-A and in limited AA time.

I'm talking about for lifetime career, not just this year or next.                                                                                            

With Eldred just called up, who do you guys think will have the greater future Brad Eldred or Ryan Howard.

Both are big bulky 1B with sweet power strokes and good eyes.

Who'd you rather have?                                                                        

I am in a sim league and we are in our free agency period.  

Jonny Gomes is eligible to be signed in the next wave.

I was wondering what type of contract you think he merits.

The maximum number of years any contract can be is 5 years.  We have a cap of $75 million to be spread over 25 players.

Thanks in advance.

I was just wondering if people knew anything about Kyle Drabek and Andrew Miller, the top HS and College-eligible pitchers for next season's draft.

I'm looking to draft one of them in a very-deep Sim league and any comments would be helpful.

Thanks.                                                                                  

Did anybody see the Pirates game vs. Boston tonight?  I see that Doumit stole both 3rd and home(!) vs. the Red Sox.

The guy steals 0 bases last year and only 1 this year and then in a major league game steals 2, including home.  Just crazy...

He also doubled in two...................

Almost at 300 characters?......Yup, guess so.

From the Los Angeles Times:

The Dodgers sent longtime prospect Edwin Jackson to double-A Jacksonville. He had a 3-7 record with an 8.62 earned-run average at triple-A Las Vegas, including seven walks in three innings Sunday, his last appearance.

"His stuff hasn't gone backwards at all," DePodesta said. "Sometimes, you need to make a move to get someone back on track."

Do you guys think this will help get his head back on straight and his pitching back to his early dominance?

So I know that all things being equal, GMs generally prefer to acquire a left-handed pitching prospect.

Now, in broad generalities, I've always been led to believe that a right-handed pitcher will fare better against right-handed batters and left-handed pitchers will far better against left-handed batters.

With the majority of batters being right-handed, wouldn't it be advantageous to instead puruse a right-handed pitching prospect?

Are my assumptions false or is there some broader concept that I am missing?

thanks