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Monday, July 23, 2007

PIT Post-Gazette: Inquiry about Glaus spurned

Talk about aiming high.

The Pirates, in preliminary talks with Toronto regarding shortstop Jack Wilson, inquired about the Blue Jays’ power-hitting third baseman, Troy Glaus, according to two sources intimately familiar with the matter.

Yes, the same Troy Glaus who is due $12.75 million next year—plus an $11.25 million player option for 2009—and has a universal no-trade clause that was included in his contract largely because of his long-standing wish to play on the West Coast.

The Pirates’ inquiry was rejected, one of those sources said.
...
The Boston Red Sox, the team seen as most interested in reliever Salomon Torres, is actively shopping enigmatic outfielder Wily Mo Pena.

Pena has exceptional power, with 66 career home runs at age 25, but is batting .202 and has struck out 12 times in his past 17 at-bats. He is making $1.8 million.

NTNgod Posted: July 23, 2007 at 04:22 AM | 35 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, Boston, Pittsburgh, Toronto

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1. MSI Posted: July 23, 2007 at 05:07 AM (#2451313)

Get off the phone right now JP Ricciardi.

2. NTNgod Posted: July 23, 2007 at 05:15 AM (#2451319)

The Pirates’ inquiry was rejected, one of those sources said.

The other source couldn't stop laughing when asked if the Blue Jays turned down the offer.

3. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: July 23, 2007 at 12:39 PM (#2451349)

a universal no-trade clause that was included in his contract largely because of his long-standing wish to play on the West Coast.

Then I can see why you wouldn't want Toronto to trade you.

4. GregD Posted: July 23, 2007 at 12:44 PM (#2451356)

a universal no-trade clause that was included in his contract largely because of his long-standing wish to play on the West Coast.

Then I can see why you wouldn't want Toronto to trade you.

Man, that is some serious West Coast bias. Funny, I always found the East Coast nicer--Kingston, Adams, Oswego, the edge of the Adirondacks, beautiful stuff--but then again that's the thing about Lake Ontario. There's things to love about both coasts.

5. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 23, 2007 at 01:02 PM (#2451371)

Oh, mother of pearl. I know Littlefield likes to aim (too) high and then cave at the last minute, but this is way beyond ridiculous.

I think Pena for Torres would be a fair deal.

6. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: July 23, 2007 at 01:08 PM (#2451382)

Am I a masochist for wanting Wily Mo in a Padres uni?

7. MSI Posted: July 23, 2007 at 01:10 PM (#2451384)

I see this trade as a battle of the bad GM's. Any other gm could fleece the Pirates...but this is coming from the guy who offered Alex Rios for Paul Maholm a couple of years ago and was denied.

Wily Mo could be a good hitter but his fielding...in Petco.....shiver

8. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: July 23, 2007 at 01:19 PM (#2451398)

Why would anybody trade for Wilson?
Even if Pittsburgh picked up every penny, I would still say no

9. Rusty Priske Posted: July 23, 2007 at 01:33 PM (#2451410)

You don't think Wilson would be an upgrade at SS for Toronto? I sure do.

HOWEVER, he doesn't warrant anything CLOSE to Glaus in return.

10. Russ Posted: July 23, 2007 at 01:46 PM (#2451429)

but this is coming from the guy who offered Alex Rios for Paul Maholm a couple of years ago and was denied.

The equivalent of watching two drunk guys play Scrabble. Not entertaining, fairly sad, and all you pretty much end up with is a bunch of curse words and misspelled words.

11. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 23, 2007 at 01:50 PM (#2451436)

"Not entertaining, fairly sad, and all you pretty much end up with is a bunch of curse words and misspelled words."

One of the most embarrassing moments of my childhood involved having to explain to my grandmother, during a game of Scrabble, that she had misspelled the word "faggot".

12. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 23, 2007 at 01:50 PM (#2451439)

And no, she wasn't thinking about the bundle of sticks when she played it.

13. Dan The Mediocre Posted: July 23, 2007 at 01:52 PM (#2451441)

And no, she wasn't thinking about the bundle of sticks when she played it.

Was she informing you that she was in on your little secret?

14. Gainsay Posted: July 23, 2007 at 01:55 PM (#2451446)

Not that I think Wilson for Glaus is close to fair, but I don't even see why the Pirates would want to get Glaus. This isn't a team that should be trying to get more players who are going to only be around for 1-2 years.

15. Gromit Posted: July 23, 2007 at 01:56 PM (#2451448)

Turned down? Oh, well. So much for the Pirates playoff push.

16. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: July 23, 2007 at 02:11 PM (#2451460)

You don't think Wilson would be an upgrade at SS for Toronto? I sure do

I don't follow the Jays enough to know any of their in house solutions, and sure Wilson would be an upgrade over Clayton, but is Aaron Hill at SS not an option here?

Finding a 2B replacement can't be that hard.

17. Buster Olney the Lonely Posted: July 23, 2007 at 02:19 PM (#2451468)

The Pirates, in preliminary talks with Toronto regarding shortstop Jack Wilson, inquired about the Blue Jays’ power-hitting third baseman, Troy Glaus, according to two sources intimately familiar with the matter.

Is Littlefield having a laugh? Is he having a laugh?

18. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 23, 2007 at 02:32 PM (#2451478)

"Was she informing you that she was in on your little secret?"

She had some very strange ideas, that lady. She's also the one who told me that I should be a priest when I grow up, because I look so good in black, and I might meet some nice Slovak girls that way.

19. MSI Posted: July 23, 2007 at 02:34 PM (#2451480)

I don't follow the Jays enough to know any of their in house solutions, and sure Wilson would be an upgrade over Clayton, but is Aaron Hill at SS not an option here?

Finding a 2B replacement can't be that hard.

Basically there is NO in house solution and we haven't had a good SS for years. Moving Hill to SS is an option, though he's been great at 2b, and the infield free agent crop is weak next year. We had horrid defence with Russ Adams who can't make the throw to 1b from anywhere, so any guy with steady defence would be good. They brought in CLayton in the belief that the offence would be good enough, but what do you know, it is below average this year and is the same next year. Basically, as a big Jays fan I think it would be an upgrade, but that's if the money covered is 75% and very little talent is given up in return. So I don't see something happening. Does anyone see Pitsburgh giving up 10 million and getting back a B prospect? Probably not.

20. zonk Posted: July 23, 2007 at 02:43 PM (#2451489)

Recognizing that yes, Glaus has been pretty good this year --

Is the Pirates strategy one of being able to say their entire lineup is comprised of "one time all-stars"? Or maybe with Pena -- "one-time 'future all-stars'"?

Will they be knocking on the Royals door to be inquiring about Mike Sweeney next? Or - maybe they might be interested in getting Kendall back?

I'm not saying that Glaus is anything NEAR Kendall/Sweeney - like I said, I recognize that he's been quite good, better than most people realize -- but I just do not see how a 31 y.o. 3B with a bum shoulder and a well-known desire to play on the west coast makes sense for the Pirates.

I mean - Littlefield does realize that's his team is in 5th place, 17 games under .500, right?

21. MSI Posted: July 23, 2007 at 02:46 PM (#2451491)

Their offence sucks and Glaus would improve that. What's not to understand?

22. zonk Posted: July 23, 2007 at 03:26 PM (#2451528)

Their offence sucks and Glaus would improve that. What's not to understand?

Well sure - but I think it's safe to say that acquiring Glaus at best turns the Pirates from a .425 to .450 ballclub (and that's a stretch)...

In essence - does Littlefield think the PIrates are just "one player away" from being a contender? Otherwise, I don't see the logic in a 5th place team inquiring about a 31 yo slugger with an injury history.

23. Sam M. Posted: July 23, 2007 at 03:29 PM (#2451531)

Otherwise, I don't see the logic in a 5th place team inquiring about a 31 yo slugger with an injury history.

The cynic in me says that you can make some headlines that convince people you asked about a big name with a big contract ("See, we're willing to spend money!"), in total safety knowing that the player has contractual protection against being traded to your city so it could never actually happen in a million years.

If you're interested in PR and not actually making the trade, it makes sense, no?

24. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 23, 2007 at 03:30 PM (#2451532)

It's got to be awfully tempting for ownership to toss DL (and maybe Tracy as well) over the offseason, to score some cheap PR points. Thus, DL's desperately trying to provide himself with some kind of case for keeping his job. He's thinking that if the team adds a big bat like Glaus, it might get just hot enough to stick its head up above .500, which he could then spin as "progress".

25. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 23, 2007 at 03:30 PM (#2451534)

Ooh, I like Sam's take as well.

26. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: July 23, 2007 at 04:09 PM (#2451569)

Am I a masochist for wanting Wily Mo in a Padres uni?

You might be a masochist if you want Wily and Adam Dunn in Padres unis.

27. Greg Schuler Posted: July 23, 2007 at 04:11 PM (#2451571)

This is classic Littlefield disinformation. Every year, when the crowing gets loudest about how terrible the team is, you start to see press articles about the Pirates hunting a big name. Nothing ever comes of it, but it gets the fanbase distracted long enough to allow some spin and PR control.

The Pirates probably did ask for Troy Glaus and were probably quickly rejected. Instead, they'll haggle over middling prospects and payment and nothing will come of it. They only have to get through until Steeler's training camp starts and then the casual fanbase and local media will forget about the team and it's disappointing season.

Is Littlefield having a laugh? Is he having a laugh?

When the whistle blows...

28. Crispix Attacks Posted: July 23, 2007 at 04:27 PM (#2451581)

The cynic in me says that you can make some headlines that convince people you asked about a big name with a big contract ("See, we're willing to spend money!"), in total safety knowing that the player has contractual protection against being traded to your city so it could never actually happen in a million years.

If you're interested in PR and not actually making the trade, it makes sense, no?

That makes sense. This "Hey, we went after ARod but the numbers didn't work out" business is a good way of staving off the mobs and the pitchforks. It works better both financially and reputation-wise than ACTUALLY spending money on useless ex-All-Stars a la the Randa-Burnitz campaign of 2006.

29. Greg Franklin Posted: July 23, 2007 at 05:07 PM (#2451634)

Hill played quite a bit of SS last year, and TOR pretty much decided he couldn't handle the position. Hill's no All-Star at 2B but he has some good qualities (leading all AL 2B in doubles), so he should be left alone to see if he develops.

Don't forget to read the end-note in TFA where apparently Matt Kata is going to get multiple starts at 3B because Jim Tracy thinks he carries himself like a big leaguer. Is this the same Matt Kata who started the year with Texas as a multi-positional player and butchered the ball at every position so badly he was DFA'ed? That's .... not a solution.

Poor Dejan.

30. AROM Posted: July 23, 2007 at 05:28 PM (#2451661)

In essence - does Littlefield think the PIrates are just "one player away" from being a contender? Otherwise, I don't see the logic in a 5th place team inquiring about a 31 yo slugger with an injury history.

Who cares? Its not like they were offering future prospects for him, just Jack Wilson. If you could get Glaus for Wilson, you do it and see that a .450 team is better than a .425 team. Then you get to work on Krivsky and see if you can pull off some more lopsided deals.

31. Walt Davis Posted: July 23, 2007 at 07:31 PM (#2451796)

What's "enigmatic" about Pena? He swings as hard as possible. When he hits it, it goes a long way. When he doesn't, he Ks. He's Rob Deer with many fewer walks. And if you're gonna K in 40% of your ABs (as he has this year), you're gonna hit 202 ... unless you're BJ Upton. Anyway, Pena as a hitter is exactly what you expect a guy who Ks once every 3 or so AB to be. No mystery there.

Unless maybe you're Nate Silver. :-)

32. The Bones McCoy of THT Posted: July 23, 2007 at 07:56 PM (#2451822)

Kingston, Adams, Oswego, the edge of the Adirondacks, beautiful stuff

As a person who allegedly grew up in that area, I heartily concur (Gananoque--Gateway to the 1000 Islands)

Best Regards

John

33. J. Michael Neal Posted: July 23, 2007 at 10:29 PM (#2451987)

She had some very strange ideas, that lady. She's also the one who told me that I should be a priest when I grow up, because I look so good in black, and I might meet some nice Slovak girls that way.

Could she at least spell "Tiso"?

34. Morally Excellent Posted: July 24, 2007 at 12:02 AM (#2452227)

What's "enigmatic" about Pena? He swings as hard as possible. When he hits it, it goes a long way. When he doesn't, he Ks. He's Rob Deer with many fewer walks.

So he's Dave Kingman then.

I guess he's "enigmatic" in the sense that sometimes his approach results in him being a valuable hitter (2004, 2006), and sometimes it results in him being a very poor one (2003, 2007).

35. DCW3 Posted: July 24, 2007 at 04:13 AM (#2452714)

So he's Dave Kingman then.

Well, he walks and homers less often than Kingman, and strikes out a lot more. In a much higher-offense era than Kingman played in. That's not a recipe for success.

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PIT Post-Gazette: Inquiry about Glaus spurned

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