SB Nation User Blog: saveuszito

Garrett Atkins?

saveuszito — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:23:49 -0000

MLB.com has a story about the Rockies almost certainly getting set to trade third-baseman Garrett Atkins with the Reds listed as a potentional suitor.

Any chance we can land this guy? He seems like a terrific option if his price isn't too high. 29 years old, 21 homers last year after an exceedingly slow start. Would the Rockies be willing to trade within the division and what do you think it would cost us to get him?

Of course it's all speculation but hey, that's what we're here for.

I found this stunning

saveuszito — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:43:48 -0000

I read this over the weekend and Grant just linked to it. This list of our big free agents signings over the past seven years was just astounding to me. Sure we got some decent results out of a few of those guys but, for the most part, it's a complete and total trainwreck and it seems like the more money we spend, the bigger the bust.

Aaron Rowand (before the 2008 season); Rich Aurilia, Bengie Molina, Dave Roberts and Barry Zito (2007); Matt Morris (2006); Armando Benitez, Mike Matheny and Omar Vizquel (2005); Brett Tomko and Michael Tucker (2004); Edgardo Alfonzo, Ray Durham and Marquis Grissom (2003); Reggie Sanders (2002) and Eric Davis and Shawon Dunston (2001).

Bonds intent on playing this year

saveuszito — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:02:33 -0000

I was reading an article today about Bonds still hunting for a home. It featured the usual rhetoric from his agent about how his legs feel better than ever and that he was an all-star last year and how it's unfathomable that a contending team wouldn't want him.

The simple fact of the matter is, a contending team isn't going to take him at his asking price. Only a team that is terrible and hungry to sell tickets (Oakland) would give him a sizeable contract and I can't imagine that. Or possibly a team like Anaheim could DH him if he dropped his asking price significantly (although from recent reports it sounds like Vlad will be DHing a bit this year.)

So what I'm getting at is... would we want him this year? First, I know this isn't going to happen. I know, I know, I know. The number of bridges that have been burned by both sides is too much to overcome. But it's interesting. I know the slogan this year is "A New Beginning: We're crappy but likeable". It's kind of like when the Blazers cut ties with their thugs and were awful for a few seasons.

But, if Bonds is out there in late March, seemingly healthy, and willing to settle for a 1-year $8 million dollar deal, would it be worth one more wild ride? I mean, as much as the youth movement has been talked about, Sabean seems hell-bent on an Opening Day outfield of Roberts, Rowand and Winn... not a youngster to be seen. Bonds' defense wouldn't kill us with Rowand being able to shade toward leftfield and, with all the days he needs off, Davis/Lewis would still get as much action as they are likely to see anyway.

Again, the last thing this team needs is ANOTHER outfielder but, barring injury, it would be an almost foregone conclusion that Bonds would be our top home run hitter this season. And, with luck maybe we could eat most of Roberts' contract and send him to Chicago in the imminent deal for Crede. All of a sudden we would be looking at:

Vizquel
Durham/Frandsen
Winn
Bonds
Rowand
Molina
Crede
Aurilia/Ortmeier

That almost looks like a Major League line-up. Now, I'm not asking "should we sign Bonds?" It's a PR nightmare and there is way too much alienation on all sides. I'm just curious how many people on this site would be willing to put up with Bonds for one more year given the above scenario?