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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Rosenthal: Braves join list of suitors for righty Burnett

Armed with his trusty BrainStem IIC Cable...Robothal is still making ML connections.

The White Sox are asking teams for a young starting pitcher plus additional players for right fielder Jermaine Dye. The Mets, Rays and Phillies are among the teams balking at such a price.

Dye, earning $11.5 million in the final year of his contract, amounts to a one-season rental. He can block trades to six clubs, most of which are in the northeast, according to a major-league source.

One potentially interested executive said his team was concerned that Dye batted only .210 with runners in scoring position and two outs last season — 36 points below the American League average.

...Twins left fielder Delmon Young is “very, very much out there,” according to one rival GM. The Twins, though, need to be careful in any trade discussions. Getting poor value for Young would only compound their mistake in acquiring him as part of a six-player trade in which they sent shortstop Jason Bartlett and right-hander Matt Garza to the Rays ...

Repoz Posted: November 25, 2008 at 06:59 AM | 24 comment(s)
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1. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: November 25, 2008 at 07:40 AM (#3015357)

The Hoffman-to-the-Dodgers idea makes absolutely no sense to me. The Dodgers have two guys who did well closing last year, and tons of pen depth, so they should spend a lot of money they don't have on yet another closer, rather than on a need like Furcal or a want like Manny, just in case one of the two great closers they already have doesn't come back at full strength? What? I mean Broxton sure looked strong in the role in '08, and if he needs veteran mentorship, then he can just talk to Saito, right?

And the implication that the Rays want to get older, less athletic, and worse on defense is pretty funny, too.

2. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk

Posted: November 25, 2008 at 07:47 AM (#3015358)

One potentially interested executive said his team was concerned that Dye batted only .210 with runners in scoring position and two outs last season — 36 points below the American League average.

Yeah, clearly Dye sucks.

3. Cold Prosimian Posted: November 25, 2008 at 07:48 AM (#3015359)

One potentially interested executive said his team was concerned that Dye batted only .210 with runners in scoring position and two outs last season — 36 points below the American League average.

Beat me to it....

4. flournoy Posted: November 25, 2008 at 07:57 AM (#3015360)

I don't like Burnett, and I'd rather root for guys I like. Sign someone else...

5. zonk Posted: November 25, 2008 at 08:32 AM (#3015374)

Awesome.

The Pads are going to be stuck giving Peavy to the Cubs for pennies on the dollar. Serves 'em right for employing a Nazi child molester in the 80s.

6. TomH Posted: November 25, 2008 at 08:42 AM (#3015377)

don't know what #5 is about, but should every team but the Dodgers be doomed to finish last since they were all racists until Rickey broke the barrier down?

7. zonk Posted: November 25, 2008 at 08:45 AM (#3015379)

don't know what #5 is about, but should every team but the Dodgers be doomed to finish last since they were all racists until Rickey broke the barrier down?

Well, no -- because the Dodgers pissed away all that good will by employing the same Nazi child molester for most of the 70s.

8. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk

Posted: November 25, 2008 at 08:46 AM (#3015380)

don't know what #5 is about, but should every team but the Dodgers be doomed to finish last since they were all racists until Rickey broke the barrier down?

I say yes! Goddam Major League Baseball!

9. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk

Posted: November 25, 2008 at 08:47 AM (#3015381)

Well, no -- because the Dodgers pissed away all that good will by employing the same Nazi child molester for most of the 70s.

True dat. The Nazi child molester and his fascist Italian collaborator.

10. Excel Hearts Choi Posted: November 25, 2008 at 08:48 AM (#3015382)

I kinda figured that the Rangers would not see some serious interest in either Millwood or Padilla until the season is under way. The Rangers have a bunch of talented young pitchers nearing the Majors, but they still are going to need some veterans to pitch a bulk of the innings. Moreover, will Millwood and Padilla be any good next season? Sure they could, but it would be more prudent to see how they pitch for a couple of months first.

11. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk

Posted: November 25, 2008 at 08:48 AM (#3015383)

Also, why do the Twins want to trade Young? Is he that big of an ass-wipe?

12. Fancy Pants Handle Posted: November 25, 2008 at 09:06 AM (#3015390)

don't know what #5 is about, but should every team but the Dodgers be doomed to finish last since they were all racists until Rickey broke the barrier down?

I say yes! Goddam Major League Baseball!

You need something more provocative than that... try: "Godd*mn Major LeaKKKe Baseball!"

Edit: And I find it offensive that the nanny tries to censor my blaspheming!

13. Cris E Posted: November 25, 2008 at 09:48 AM (#3015421)

Also, why do the Twins want to trade Young? Is he that big of an ass-wipe?

I think there are a couple things going on there. First, I'm pretty sure they don't *want* to trade him. He apparently took a while to build a rapport with MN coaches, so reworking his swing the way they wanted it took a long time. He had a good second half, so things are coming together for him and they are hoping the power he showed in Tampa (and batting practice in 08) starts appearing in games. But they do need some infielders, and being hesitant to trade pitching, they're sort of in a bind for desirable assets to work with. Young is no great shakes defensively, seems to be different in the clubhouse from the usual Twins template (not a great guy like Rondell White, or an earnest youth like Denard Span) and is young enough to still hold good value to everyone else. I'm guessing they had the Ol' Lapdog, Sid Hartman, run a proposal up to see how fans would react and will keep it in mind as they try to find a shortstop or eighth inning guy.

14. Kyle S at work Posted: November 25, 2008 at 10:00 AM (#3015430)

If the Braves sign Burnett (and that's far from a certainty), IMHO that doesn't take them out of the Peavy game. They know they need two more starters.

15. DL from MN Posted: November 25, 2008 at 10:03 AM (#3015435)

The fans hate Delmon, bad first impression after being pitched as the guy who would replace Torii. The media hates Delmon; he's a reluctant, abrupt interviewee. The coaches didn't like working with Delmon. He's right though, you sell low on a player with Delmon's talent and you'll probably regret it. I'd deal him if I could get a young SS or 3B that solves the position for 4-5 years.

16. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk

Posted: November 25, 2008 at 10:10 AM (#3015439)

He's right though, you sell low on a player with Delmon's talent and you'll probably regret it. I'd deal him if I could get a young SS or 3B that solves the position for 4-5 years.

I suppose of the Braves really do sign Furcal then maybe a Yunel Escobar for Delmon Young trade makes sense, assuming the Braves have given up on trading for Peavy.

17. Mike Green Posted: November 25, 2008 at 10:19 AM (#3015446)

As of age 22, Gary Sheffield's BBRef comps included Gary Carter, Chris Speier, Larry Parrish and Luis Rivas. You never know with a player like Young, but I say that it would help if more of his comps were ex-Expos.

The other thing for the Twins is, of course, the financial aspect. His arb clock is ticking. He may be a great player when he's 27, but that won't do the Twins much good.

18. zonk Posted: November 25, 2008 at 10:36 AM (#3015461)

If the Braves sign Burnett (and that's far from a certainty), IMHO that doesn't take them out of the Peavy game. They know they need two more starters.

Sure - but do they have 30 million allotted to get those two more starters? I suppose Smoltz comes off the books if he retires, but they've still got to pay Hudson for 3/4 of a season of not pitching. What's Hampton's story... Is this the last year of the deal of infamy - or, at least the last year the Braves will owe anything on it?

I would say it's probably more likely that the Braves miss out on Burnett and end up acquiring Peavy than the inverse - but I know which way I'm rooting in the negotiations.

19. Insert clever/punny handle here (oi!) Posted: November 25, 2008 at 10:43 AM (#3015469)

Hampton is gone. 2008 was the end of that contract.

20. zonk Posted: November 25, 2008 at 10:47 AM (#3015472)

Hampton is gone. 2008 was the end of that contract.

Strange.

I would have expected boisterous celebrations in 3 or 4 cities to have alerted me to that fact.

21. Kyle S at work Posted: November 25, 2008 at 10:55 AM (#3015479)

The rumor is they have $40mm in budget for two pitchers and a hitter. We'll see.

22. zonk Posted: November 25, 2008 at 11:00 AM (#3015484)

The rumor is they have $40mm in budget for two pitchers and a hitter. We'll see.

Where do they think they want the bat? OF or 1B? Seems like the Braves soured on Kotchman immediately after acquiring him, but unless they're thinking flier on someone like Giambi -- I would imagine a Burrell, Dunn, or some such fits that budget better.

Personally - I think they ought to get both Burnett AND get in on the CC bidding.... and make sure and let Towers know that they're no longer in the Peavy market. It's the polite thing to do.

23. Ryan Jones Posted: November 25, 2008 at 11:06 AM (#3015488)

Personally - I think they ought to get both Burnett AND get in on the CC bidding

The contract expectations are such that $40M per season might not be enough to get just these two, and that will leave them without the bat - CC is expected to get at least $25M a season, and Burnett seems to be at the minimum of $15M a season.

24. andrewreinsch Posted: November 25, 2008 at 01:10 PM (#3015595)

Young is no great shakes defensively, seems to be different in the clubhouse from the usual Twins template (not a great guy like Rondell White, or an earnest youth like Denard Span) and is young enough to still hold good value to everyone else.

Sometimes I think that, as far as fan perception goes, that Young's whole 2008 story would have been different if the Twins had ended up winning the game that he tied with a late homer off of Mariano Rivera. It's stupid, but when it happened I assumed that a)the Twins would win that game and b)that it would be a turning point between him and the Minnesota fans. Not that it matters much whether we feel he's somebody we'd enjoy having a cold beverage with, but I still like him quite a bit as a player (we've got five OFers who are good enough to start somewhere, and I think he's the only most likely to improve on 2008) and can't help but think a couple more "moments" like that would have helped endear him to fans. Like Denard Span running all the way back into the infield with his tongue out after an over-the-wall catch in Seattle. Or pretty much every day in the life of Carlos Gomez and Pat Neshek.

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Rosenthal: Braves join list of suitors for righty Burnett

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