No.

I have an easier way for the Yankees to move Joba to the rotation. Call up Chris Britton or Scott Patterson or Edwar Ramirez or any one of the guys they have who could be their version of Jared Burton. Then move Joba.

Sure, JJ, but then they don't get Arroyo.

Reading the article, it also appears to me that Phillips thinks that Griffey still plays center field. He doesn't explicitly state this, but he does think that after trading him they should call up Bruce to play center.

None of these trades have any chance of happening other than Arroyo. Comments on Reds message boards are likely to give more even-handed analysis. Plus, why would a rebuilding team want Scott Proctor at this point?

How does he not even mention Hatteberg, since he is the most obvious trade candidate?

And if Cliff Lee is the best LHP in the AL, he probably doesn't need to get packaged with a solid young player to get Dunn.

so call White Sox GM Ken Williams, who's tried to get Griffey in the past, and ask for Josh Fields or Carlos Quentin. The Sox have a shot, and Griffey would be huge in Chi-Town

So because the WhiteSox have "a shot" this year (FWIW I disagree), trade Griffey to them for Quentin who in all likelihood is a better player RIGHT NOW than Griffey

Genius!

Carlos Quentin isn't going anywhere for the time being. He's the best bat in the Sox lineup at the moment.

Depressingly, I could see Ken Williams dealing Josh Fields for Ken Griffey, though.

He's the <strike>best</strike> only bat in the Sox lineup at the moment.

Better, I think.

The entire premise that Stevie P has some pointers for Jocketty is the biggest laugh. I think old Walt J has a couple ideas right now that don't involve calling the Yankees and "make it an owners trade".

Griffey would be huge in Chi-Town

We had Seaver and Carlton! Griffey is small taters by comparison.

The entire premise that Stevie P has some pointers for Jocketty is the biggest laugh.

I thought it was unnecessary even to bring that up.

Every time I've seen Phillips on ESPN I can't help but think that the men who own my favorite team knew this man and thought he'd be a good choice to run that team.

I've met people who know Phillips, they said he was an extremely hard worker, knew people, players, names, etc., in every organization, but it was like the student who has to get by via rote memorization- they have to do that because they don't actually understand anything and can't process info.

Depressingly, I could see Ken Williams dealing Josh Fields for Ken Griffey, though.

But where would he play? :)

I find it amusing that ex-GM Steve Phillips advocates going over GMs' heads to make a trade.

I find it amusing that ex-GM Steve Phillips advocates going over GMs' heads to make a trade.

Me, too. I wonder if this happened a lot while he was gm. The whole concept of an "owner's trade" is just a bad idea. I wonder how often it happens, though.

Me, too. I wonder if this happened a lot while he was gm.

It's generally accepted that the Piazza deal was made over his head (With Doubleday- not Wilpon)

Oof.

1. Yea, the Sox will trade actual value for a guy who's not very good, is owed the rest of $12M this year, and $16.5 (or a very modest $4M buyout) next year. And Josh Fields? The Reds already have a guy at 3B who's the same age and better.

2. As I tell people, all you can do is ask - the other guy isn't likely to punch you. But I doubt that Dunn is going to bring a premier package, given his contract situation.

3. We've talked about this at redreporter.com, and either Arroyo continues to stink, making him untradable with that contract, or he doesn't, and the Reds should keep him. No one in their right mind would give up anything for him, and should require the Reds to pay most of his salary.

4. As noted, any trade revolving around Burton-for-Hughes is laughable; the fact that it's an "owners' trade" makes it doubly so.

5. Let's see...Gonzalez shows less defensive flexibility and costs more, so keep him instead of Freel. Yea, that makes sense.

I'm just a stupid car salesman, and I can make better suggestions than these.

If I were Shapiro, I wouldn't deal Lee and Gutierrez for Dunn, but I would probably do Gutierrez and Sowers and I'd think long and hard about Gutierrez and Laffey. I can't see them resigning Sabathia, and none of their important players are really on the upswing anymore, so this year might be as good as they get, and they should go for it. And if they can sign Dunn, that's a nice bonus. (Of course, Sowers in the Great American Ballpark might be an Eric Milton-esque disaster.)

I could see the other side though, which is that the Tigers are extremely old and none of the other three teams will be ready to compete by next year, so they should make sure they keep what they have intact. I don't know.

#4: I agree. He definitely thinks Griffey still plays center.

As a long time Mets fan I don't really take Steve Phillips seriously.

Mo Vaughan?

I would likely feel worse about him had he not been soon followed by Duquette.

I like these type of articles, not saying I agree with him, but in my opinion it's pretty cool to see a former GM talking about things he would try to do to make the team better, sure his ideas may not be any better than a fans point of view, but just having the former GM in his title gives it more credibility and helps to get a nice viewpoint of what a "real" gm may think is possible.


Of course I agree with most of the criticisms levied against him on this board but still I like the concept of these articles.

What I would have liked added is an opening sequence that explained what his overall goals would have been and why. Many of those points were addressed in his comments section (develop young pitchers, get value from contracts that are expiring this year, trade position of strength for weakness-shortstop) but it would have been nice to see him mention that in the opening paragraphs that way the reader could try and say "well if he is thinking this, and the deal he proposes can't happen what are some other options that he would pursue"

Of course I agree with most of the criticisms levied against him on this board but still I like the concept of these articles.

They need a better ex-GM to do these articles though.

What I would have liked added is an opening sequence that explained what his overall goals would have been and why.

What makes you think he had one before coming up with a deal?

Wrong thread

They need a better ex-GM to do these articles though.

how about a couple of the Pirates ex-gms?

I would be happy if Whitey Herzog would do something like this, he loves to hear himself talk more than anyone ever affiliated with the Cardinals and actually is pretty smart guy still. (outside of the playing the world series in Memphis concept)

Heck if someone could afford/convince them to do it, it would be nice for a website to start a "what would you do to build a team" roundtable discussion with former gms or respected managers.

What makes you think he had one before coming up with a deal?

well I hope anyone pretending to be a gm has some type of plan.

The idea that this wacko ran my favorite team for several years still makes me convulse.

I remember hearing Eric Karros on Jim Rome talking about fans who would come up to him with trade scenarios involving Kal Daniels and some prospects for Barry Bonds. Steve Phillips reminds of one of those fans.

I think my favorite point was #5. It reads something like this: "This team has two shortstops. This issue is significant enough that I will address it in an article I am writing about the team. My proposed action on this issue is to keep both of these players, and trade someone else who plays a different position. This will not solve the issue of having two shortstops at all." I guess that's what happens when you turn a bad GM into a bad analyst - you also get a bad writer.

When will a team I hate hire Steve Phillips? I need the uninentional comedy.

I've met people who know Phillips, they said he was an extremely hard worker, knew people, players, names, etc., in every organization, but it was like the student who has to get by via rote memorization- they have to do that because they don't actually understand anything and can't process info.

When I watch Phillips on tv, I can see why he would get hired. He speaks well, presents himself well, sounds like he knows what he is talking about, etc. The problem being he is not making sense when he talks.