SB Nation User Blog: pbpsean

what!?!?!?!?!

pbpsean — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:38:51 -0000

According to Yahoo's Tim Brown, the Giants "believe they are closing in on signing shortstop Edgar Renteria." Brown also says the Giants have discussed trading Jonathan Sanchez to the Marlins for Jorge Cantu. That'd be a steal for the Marlins, who plucked Cantu off the scrap heap in January for a half-million bucks.

That better not be true. If I were JD, I would immediately get on the phone and offer all of our spare parts for Sanchez. If the Giants trade Sanchez for just Cantu there should be an investigation.

Could there be a flip on the way?

pbpsean — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:01:02 -0000

When reading all of the many opinions of this deal a really interesting thought crossed my mind...

Could the Marlins have grabbed Ceda for the Rangers to help complete a deal for one of our catchers? Could we still get a Boston package and do both deals?

If they could plug him in right now, we might as well consider it too.

Hey, I would pay some of Laird's contract for a chance to acquire Ceda.

Cubs out of options with Hill?

pbpsean — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:01:10 -0000

Chicago Sun-Times reporting that Rich Hill's lost 2008 season killed his trade value. He'll be out of options next spring.

I would be in favor of overpaying the Cubs to acquire Hill. If we could find a match it would be a risk worth taking. Just part of the turn over every rock to improve the club scenario.

Bring in Hochevar, Hill and Nippert and see what Maddux can do with them.

Interesting Royals discussion...

pbpsean — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:46:40 -0000

Saw this on MLB Trade Rumors:

Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star says the Braves appear willing to trade Jeff Francoeur. While no trade talks have taken place, it's known that Royals GM Dayton Moore is a fan. Dutton speculates that the Royals would not give up Zack Greinke for Francoeur, but may consider offering Luke Hochevar, Danny Cortes, or Mark Teahen.

I'm not real interested in Teahen, but I would have interest in Hochevar and/or Cortes. Wouldn't it be a reasonable risk to take if the Royals would accept David Murphy to KC for Hochevar?

Don't we have better outfielders to trade than Francoeur!?!

Lower targets for acquiring pitching.

pbpsean — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:42:11 -0000

As much as I would like Peavy (whom we can give the two pitchers, CF and catcher they want in a deal) and Sabathia (just don't see us winning his services)... why don't we get creative, while also getting our kids some experience in 2009.

Randy Johnson: Because it looks like Arizona doesn't seem to want to pay him, lets go after Randy on a 1yr/$11 million deal.

I would also offer him a sweetheart package like Clemens to make it easier for him.

Ben Sheets: Because of his late season injury, I would go after him with a 3yr/$39 million deal with two option years and incentive bonuses for innings pitched.

I think adding those two and entering 2009 with a rotation of: Johnson, Sheets, Padilla/Millwood (one traded for anything in winter/the other traded at the deadline for anything), Harrison, McCarthy and Feldman... with Hurley, Hunter, Mendoza and Mathis in AAA as reinforcements... and mid-season replacements in Feliz and Holland by August 1 if need be.

Wouldn't mind Greg Maddux as a player/coach as mention in USA Today. Name him Pitching Coach and let him pitch as much as he wants. Interesting thought.

Let's call the Marlins!

pbpsean — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:13:40 -0000

Bill Shaikin of the LA Times says the Angels have considered acquiring Dan Uggla as a way to compensate if Teixeira leaves. Uggla would probably play third base.

HELLO! There could be our answer for third base in 2009. The Rangers and Marlins could come together and make a blockbuster deal that helps BOTH teams get stronger!

The Palm Beach Post says that Uggla ($417k in 08) and 1B Mike Jacobs ($395k in 08) could be among those dealt this offseason along with LHP Scott Olson ($405k in 08). The Post thinks that Uggla and Jacobs would make a combined $6 million in arbitration next season and that Olson should make $6 million himself.

So for $12 million you could have a long-term 3B, a nice DH/1B and a left handed starter. Consider their average stats over the past three years:

Uggla, 28yo righty bat: 153gp, 105r, 155h, 37dbl, 4trip, 30hr, 90rbi, 64bb, 153k, 13 errors at 2B.

Jacobs, 28yo lefty bat: 130gp, 59r, 118h, 30dbl, 2trip, 23hr, 71rbi, 37bb, 108k, 8 errors at 1B.

Olson, 25yo LHP: 32starts, 186ip, 10w, 12l, 194h, 111r, 96er, 27hr, 76bb, 137k.

I believe you give Uggla and Jacobs to Rudy as a project to try and cut down the strikeouts and increase the walks. That is all they need to be above average hitters. And then you let Nolan and Hawkins work with Olson to cut down the hits, home runs and walks while increasing the strikeouts and you have a solid lefty for a long time.

If you could make a deal for these three with Florida (or even just Uggla and Olson), then get either Jackson or Sonnanstine from the Rays or Snell from the Pirates... you would be finished dealing this winter.

Then you would have an infield of Davis, Kinsler, Young and Uggla. An outfield of Hamilton, Byrd and Cruz with Boggs/Murphy as 4th outfielder, and Jacobs as 1b/DH.

I would send Laird, Murphy/Boggs, Arias and two pitching prospects to Florida for Uggla, Jacobs, Olson and a pitching prospect.

Do we want Uggla... Jacobs... Olson? And at what price? Could we sign Uggla long-term and trade Young and cash to the Dodgers for low level prospects?

One other question... if we are just looking for a stopgap at 3B until we move Young there, would you consider trading a prospect or two to Seattle for Beltre? Hate to trade with Seattle but it could be a nice 3B bridge to Young.

Olney: Jake Peavy might be available!

pbpsean — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:35:26 -0000

According to Olney:

Jake Peavy, Padres: He won the 2007 Cy Young Award and posted a solid 10-11 record with a 2.85 ERA, with 166 strikeouts in 173 2/3 innings this season. He is under contract for the next four seasons, at salaries of $8 million, $15 million, $16 million and $17 million (with a $22 million option for 2013). But he has become increasingly vocal in his frustration with the Padres, and with the team reducing its payroll to something in the neighborhood of $50 million this year, Peavy's salary will increasingly become top-heavy within the San Diego budget. General manager Kevin Towers has been quoted as saying that the Padres have no untouchable players, and there are executives who say they think Peavy could be taken for the right package of prospects. Peavy has a full no-trade clause and would have to agree to any deal.

I would rather pay a little more in prospects for five years of Peavy than two years of Greinke. Get Peavy and let the chips fall where they may.

Lets discuss. What would we be comfortable trading for Peavy?

How about a flyer!?!

pbpsean — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:51:14 -0000

At MLBTradeRumors.com...

According to the AP, the Marlins released righty Sergio Mitre today. He would've been a non-tender candidate later in the year anyway. Mitre had Tommy John surgery in July, so he'll miss at least half of the '09 season. Mitre, 27, can be a decent back-rotation starter when healthy given his strong groundball rate.

Since he is recovering from TJ surgery... how about signing him to a backloaded deal. We'll pay him $500,000 in 2009 to rehab and go to the minors to work on his stuff and strengthening his arm. Then we see where he is in spring training 2010 and see if he can help us as either a starter or reliever. I would give him 2mil in 2010 and a club option for 4 mil in 2011.

Small dollar, low risk gamble to possibly strengthen our pitching staff when the kids arrive in 2010.

Designated for Assignment

pbpsean — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:00:03 -0000

In our search for a good bullpen, I think it would behoove JD and the Rangers to take a flyer on R.J. Swindle who was designated for assignment by the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a 25yo, 6' 3", 190lbs lefthanded reliever.

In 2008 between AA and AAA, he pitched 53ip, 3-1, 1.53era, 1sv, 1hr, 67k & 8bb.

In 2007 between low and high A, he pitched 44ip, 2-2, 2.25era, 13 sv, 3hr, 57k & 8bb.

In two seasons he has 124 strikeouts and 16 walks. That is tremendous.

Because of his youth and mastery of the strike zone, I have no problem throwing the Phillies a low prospect to take a chance on him.

Wolf worth a try?

pbpsean — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:01:59 -0000

Rob Neyer's Blog Comments:

"Why? Because the Astros are interesting. Since trading for Wolf, the Astros are 28-12. Have they played so well because of Randy Wolf? Since joining the Astros, Wolf is 3-1 with a 3.80 and the team is 7-1 in his starts. So yeah, he's played his part."

Wolf keeping options open in 2009.

Inexpensive and solid when healthy.

He seems to finally be getting over his injury issues and could be set up for two or three years of nice success. When looking over his numbers... I like him!

2.25/1 K/BB ratio, 4.28 ERA would be nice at RBiA.

Is 08 a fluke or is he getting back to the Wolf of 00-04?

Could be worth a 3 year, $27M deal to bridge the gap to our kids. It would be even better to pair him with Derek Lowe for a couple years and see where the chips fall.

Would a rotation of Lowe, Harrison, Wolf, Feldman and Millwood/Padilla be OK for 2009? Seems like a nice starting point to allow for patience with Hunter/Feliz and Holland by 2010-11.