- 9,622
- 783
Yo seriously, !%+$ Ed Wade.
2016 MLB thread. THE CUBS HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE! Chicago Cubs are your 2016 World Series champions
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by proshares,
- Start date
- Status
- 9,622
- 783
Yo seriously, !%+$ Ed Wade.
T0INE
formerly toine2983
- 67,259
- 73,704
I want no parts of Ubaldo Jiminez.
T0INE
formerly toine2983
- 67,259
- 73,704
I want no parts of Ubaldo Jiminez.
- 4,857
- 14
Josh Zeid is one of the PTBN...and Kendrick is the other rumored player
- 4,857
- 14
Josh Zeid is one of the PTBN...and Kendrick is the other rumored player
- 10,371
- 653
Doug Fister and David Pauley to Detroit for Charlie Furbush, Casper Wells, Francisco Martinez and a player to be named.
Jerry Hairston to Milwaukee for probably nothing.
Kuroda drawing lots of interest from Boston.
Teams expect Jimenez' price to come down today. The Indians have both Pomeranz and White pitching for Akron tonight; I hope there are zero Rockies scouts in attendance.
The Indians seem to be the favorites for Ludwick.
Bell to the Rangers looks like a real possibility.
Jerry Hairston to Milwaukee for probably nothing.
Kuroda drawing lots of interest from Boston.
Teams expect Jimenez' price to come down today. The Indians have both Pomeranz and White pitching for Akron tonight; I hope there are zero Rockies scouts in attendance.
The Indians seem to be the favorites for Ludwick.
Bell to the Rangers looks like a real possibility.
- 10,371
- 653
Doug Fister and David Pauley to Detroit for Charlie Furbush, Casper Wells, Francisco Martinez and a player to be named.
Jerry Hairston to Milwaukee for probably nothing.
Kuroda drawing lots of interest from Boston.
Teams expect Jimenez' price to come down today. The Indians have both Pomeranz and White pitching for Akron tonight; I hope there are zero Rockies scouts in attendance.
The Indians seem to be the favorites for Ludwick.
Bell to the Rangers looks like a real possibility.
Jerry Hairston to Milwaukee for probably nothing.
Kuroda drawing lots of interest from Boston.
Teams expect Jimenez' price to come down today. The Indians have both Pomeranz and White pitching for Akron tonight; I hope there are zero Rockies scouts in attendance.
The Indians seem to be the favorites for Ludwick.
Bell to the Rangers looks like a real possibility.
- 58,762
- 30,163
- 58,762
- 30,163
- 10,371
- 653
Wells sucks. The other two have the chance to be really good.
- 10,371
- 653
Wells sucks. The other two have the chance to be really good.
- 25,295
- 13,351
Ugh...
Just go get Grant Balfour or Koji Uehara...
- 25,295
- 13,351
Ugh...
Just go get Grant Balfour or Koji Uehara...
- 10,371
- 653
You hear this Derek Holland rumor?
Chicago wants him for Matt Thornton.
The Rangers said give us John Danks, too.
Chicago wants him for Matt Thornton.
The Rangers said give us John Danks, too.
- 10,371
- 653
You hear this Derek Holland rumor?
Chicago wants him for Matt Thornton.
The Rangers said give us John Danks, too.
Chicago wants him for Matt Thornton.
The Rangers said give us John Danks, too.
- 25,295
- 13,351
I'd have hung up and not called back. Keep that overrated bum and let him walk in 2 months.
- 25,295
- 13,351
I'd have hung up and not called back. Keep that overrated bum and let him walk in 2 months.
Yanks apparently making a push for Ubaldo now. Trying to sell em on Hughes instead of Nova. Also looking at Pena for a DH slot.
Sox trying to snag Harden and Willingham.
Ubaldo/Pence/other stuff.
Sox trying to snag Harden and Willingham.
Ubaldo/Pence/other stuff.
Spoiler [+]
The interest in Ubaldo Jimenez is divided into two camps. First, there's the group of teams that view him through a glass-half-full prism: They value his overall talent, his window of dominance in 2010, his improved performances this season, and his reputation for being a first-rate person. These teams are satisfied that he's healthy and are ready to make a deal for a player with a very team-friendly contract. The Tigers and Reds are among those teams.
And then there are teams that view him through a glass-half-empty prism: They see the diminished velocity, the overall dip in command and performance this year, and they wonder why Colorado -- a small-market/mid-market team -- would be willing to move a pitcher who is theoretically a No. 1-starter type talent and has a tremendous risk-free contract. And these teams are probably not going to step up and make a deal for Jimenez in the last hours before the trade deadline.
The Rockies are in a strange place today, which other teams consider to be pivotal in the Jimenez talks. If Colorado maintains its very high asking price for the pitcher, then it may have difficulty making a deal. If the Rockies lower their asking price, this will serve as confirmation for some teams that Colorado is intent on moving the pitcher as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the offseason for a deal.
To review, Jimenez's numbers: 6-9, 4.20 in 2011, after going 19-8, 2.88 in 2010. His month-by-month ERA this year:
April 6.75
May 5.45
June 2.45
July 3.77
In the thin air of Colorado this year, he has posted a 5.55 ERA, and on the road, his numbers are much better, with a 2.83 ERA. He ranks 84th among 110 pitchers in BABIP, at .298, which suggests he's been unlucky; last year, he ranked 12th, at .255.
His contract almost couldn't be more attractive for a team looking to acquire an experienced front-line starting pitcher: He's making just $2.8 million this year, $4.2 million in 2012, and he has a team option for $5.75 million in 2013. A 2014 team option for $8 million goes away if he is traded.
There is a perception among other teams that Detroit is desperate to deal for another high-end starter, given the struggles of Brad Penny (opponents have an OPS of .900 against him). Jimenez would fit the Reds' restructured priorities; Cincinnati is trying to improve the team for 2011, but in light of the Reds' slide this week, any major acquisition would have to be able to help in 2012 and maybe beyond. The Reds are looking for a starting pitcher and a leadoff hitter, which is why they've been talking to the Houston Astros about Michael Bourn.
• The question of Jimenez's future is hanging over the Rockies, writes Troy Renck.
Pondering Pence
• Rival officials peg Hunter Pence's arbitration awards at about $10 million and $14-15 million over the next two years, which is why his trade value was never going to be higher than it is right now --and which is why it was the right move for the Astros to trade the outfielder now, for a couple of high-end prospects.
And from the Phillies' perspective, Pence makes the Phillies better now, giving them the veteran right-handed hitter that Charlie Manuel has pined for since spring training. Pence is a high-energy type of person, and it will be interesting to see whether his transition to the Phillies will be smooth -- certainly, he'll be surrounded by better and more experienced players -- or whether he'll have to cope with some anxiety, given the pressures of the situation. Some other teams had pegged Pence as someone not worth the price; we'll see.
The Phillies rounded out their club with the addition of Pence, writes Jim Salisbury. Philadephia kept Domonic Brown, as Jay Greenberg writes. This was the Phillies' latest buzzer beater, as Paul Hagen writes.
Phillies vs LHP This Season
Stat Number MLB Rank
HR 19 T-22nd
Slug pct .356 25th
OBP .308 T-24th
Pence was emotional after getting word of the deal, as Zachary Levine writes.
From ESPN Stats and Info: How does Hunter Pence help the Phillies? For starters, he hits right-handed and the Phils have struggled with lefties all season.
He also has four Defensive Runs Saved this season, better than either of the Phillies' corner outfielders: Pence has four runs saved, Brown minus-3 and Raul Ibanez minus-15.
Hunter Pence's Career
Year BA BABIP
2011 .308 .370
2010 .282 .304
2009 .282 .308
2008 .269 .301
2007 .322 .377
Pence is hitting .308 this season, but he's been helped by an extraordinarily high BABIP. And he's slugging .471 but his 8.1% HR/FB rate and .163 ISO are by far the lowest of his career.
• The Braves missed out on Carlos Beltran, and then Pence, and so now they will presumably pluck one of the lower-tier outfielders who are available -- and in light of the injury to Nate McLouth and the physical problems that have nagged Jordan Schaefer, acquiring a center fielder is a priority, which is why they have had interest in Bourn, Denard Span and Coco Crisp. Their level of interest in B.J. Upton is unclear, but the Rays are willing to move Upton at a price more modest than that of Pence.
Talent evaluators say that the asking price for Bourn is high, and given the bloodletting done with Pence, it's possible that the Astros might decide to keep Bourn, who grew up in Houston. And while the Astros are clearly in rebuilding mode, incoming owner Jim Crane might not want to strip the deal down to its marrow.
"You still have to try to win games," said one team official.
But as with Pence, it's hard to imagine that Bourn's trade value is going to get any higher than it will be in the next 30 hours; he will be eligible for free agency after next season, and his agent is Scott Boras, so there is a strong chance he will walk away from the Astros in 15 months anyway. Bourn is hitting .306, with a .367 on-base percentage, and for the Reds or the Braves, he would be exactly what is needed at the top of their respective lineups. Bourn has 39 steals in 46 attempts, as well.
Notables
• The Tigers are weighing a hefty price for a fifth starter, writes Lynn Henning.
The Reds are not selling, says GM Walt Jocketty. Upton believes he'll stay with the Rays, writes Marc Topkin.
• Hiroki Kuroda is known to be a smart and thoughtful person, and those who know him say that if the Dodgers are going to trade him, they probably need to do so sometime today, to give him time to process his options and decide whether he wants to waive his no-trade clause.
And there is a strong belief among rival executives that Kuroda is going to be traded, to either the Yankees or the Red Sox -- although the Dodgers' initial asking price for a top catching or pitching prospect was viewed as very high, considering the fact that Kuroda is owed a significant amount of money for the rest of this year and that he is expected to return to Japan for next season.
The Yankees are not rushing to add to their rotation, writes Joel Sherman. Clay Buchholz is going to see a back specialist.
• The Yankees are still well-positioned to consider options for DH, as they did last year before the trade deadline, with the addition of Lance Berkman -- someone like a Carlos Pena of the Cubs, for example, if the Cubs look to move his contract.
• This is the time of year when opinions can be greatly swayed by one or two performances, and it could be that Jeremy Guthrie opened some eyes by beating the Yankees in Yankee Stadium on Friday. He is available, at the right price, although the Orioles do have a major concern about trading the right-hander: if they deal him, then who replaces him, especially in 2012? Because the Orioles will have a very difficult time luring free agents to cozy Camden Yards, to pitch against the AL East monsters.
• The Pirates are not looking to trade Paul Maholm. Sources say their focus continues to be to add a hitter. Pittsburgh continues to struggle in the power positions.
• The Rangers continue to look for bullpen help. The Padres want Joe Wieland in return for Heath Bell.
• The Twins have been looking for young, controllable relievers, which explains their interest in Drew Storen. The Nationals have been looking for a center fielder.
• There is concern about how Erik Bedard would handle the spotlight, as Scott Lauber writes, and he got lit up by Tampa Bay, an outing which probably crushed his current trade value.
• Rafael Furcal is drawing interest from the Cardinals.
• Kosuke Fukudome will bat sixth and play right field until further notice, writes Dennis Manoloff.
• The Diamondbacks are staying patient as the trade deadline approaches.
• Tim Lincecum seemed floored by Charlie Manuel's comments.
• Stephen Strasburg is getting closer to making a rehab start.
And then there are teams that view him through a glass-half-empty prism: They see the diminished velocity, the overall dip in command and performance this year, and they wonder why Colorado -- a small-market/mid-market team -- would be willing to move a pitcher who is theoretically a No. 1-starter type talent and has a tremendous risk-free contract. And these teams are probably not going to step up and make a deal for Jimenez in the last hours before the trade deadline.
The Rockies are in a strange place today, which other teams consider to be pivotal in the Jimenez talks. If Colorado maintains its very high asking price for the pitcher, then it may have difficulty making a deal. If the Rockies lower their asking price, this will serve as confirmation for some teams that Colorado is intent on moving the pitcher as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the offseason for a deal.
To review, Jimenez's numbers: 6-9, 4.20 in 2011, after going 19-8, 2.88 in 2010. His month-by-month ERA this year:
April 6.75
May 5.45
June 2.45
July 3.77
In the thin air of Colorado this year, he has posted a 5.55 ERA, and on the road, his numbers are much better, with a 2.83 ERA. He ranks 84th among 110 pitchers in BABIP, at .298, which suggests he's been unlucky; last year, he ranked 12th, at .255.
His contract almost couldn't be more attractive for a team looking to acquire an experienced front-line starting pitcher: He's making just $2.8 million this year, $4.2 million in 2012, and he has a team option for $5.75 million in 2013. A 2014 team option for $8 million goes away if he is traded.
There is a perception among other teams that Detroit is desperate to deal for another high-end starter, given the struggles of Brad Penny (opponents have an OPS of .900 against him). Jimenez would fit the Reds' restructured priorities; Cincinnati is trying to improve the team for 2011, but in light of the Reds' slide this week, any major acquisition would have to be able to help in 2012 and maybe beyond. The Reds are looking for a starting pitcher and a leadoff hitter, which is why they've been talking to the Houston Astros about Michael Bourn.
• The question of Jimenez's future is hanging over the Rockies, writes Troy Renck.
Pondering Pence
• Rival officials peg Hunter Pence's arbitration awards at about $10 million and $14-15 million over the next two years, which is why his trade value was never going to be higher than it is right now --and which is why it was the right move for the Astros to trade the outfielder now, for a couple of high-end prospects.
And from the Phillies' perspective, Pence makes the Phillies better now, giving them the veteran right-handed hitter that Charlie Manuel has pined for since spring training. Pence is a high-energy type of person, and it will be interesting to see whether his transition to the Phillies will be smooth -- certainly, he'll be surrounded by better and more experienced players -- or whether he'll have to cope with some anxiety, given the pressures of the situation. Some other teams had pegged Pence as someone not worth the price; we'll see.
The Phillies rounded out their club with the addition of Pence, writes Jim Salisbury. Philadephia kept Domonic Brown, as Jay Greenberg writes. This was the Phillies' latest buzzer beater, as Paul Hagen writes.
Phillies vs LHP This Season
Stat Number MLB Rank
HR 19 T-22nd
Slug pct .356 25th
OBP .308 T-24th
Pence was emotional after getting word of the deal, as Zachary Levine writes.
From ESPN Stats and Info: How does Hunter Pence help the Phillies? For starters, he hits right-handed and the Phils have struggled with lefties all season.
He also has four Defensive Runs Saved this season, better than either of the Phillies' corner outfielders: Pence has four runs saved, Brown minus-3 and Raul Ibanez minus-15.
Hunter Pence's Career
Year BA BABIP
2011 .308 .370
2010 .282 .304
2009 .282 .308
2008 .269 .301
2007 .322 .377
Pence is hitting .308 this season, but he's been helped by an extraordinarily high BABIP. And he's slugging .471 but his 8.1% HR/FB rate and .163 ISO are by far the lowest of his career.
• The Braves missed out on Carlos Beltran, and then Pence, and so now they will presumably pluck one of the lower-tier outfielders who are available -- and in light of the injury to Nate McLouth and the physical problems that have nagged Jordan Schaefer, acquiring a center fielder is a priority, which is why they have had interest in Bourn, Denard Span and Coco Crisp. Their level of interest in B.J. Upton is unclear, but the Rays are willing to move Upton at a price more modest than that of Pence.
Talent evaluators say that the asking price for Bourn is high, and given the bloodletting done with Pence, it's possible that the Astros might decide to keep Bourn, who grew up in Houston. And while the Astros are clearly in rebuilding mode, incoming owner Jim Crane might not want to strip the deal down to its marrow.
"You still have to try to win games," said one team official.
But as with Pence, it's hard to imagine that Bourn's trade value is going to get any higher than it will be in the next 30 hours; he will be eligible for free agency after next season, and his agent is Scott Boras, so there is a strong chance he will walk away from the Astros in 15 months anyway. Bourn is hitting .306, with a .367 on-base percentage, and for the Reds or the Braves, he would be exactly what is needed at the top of their respective lineups. Bourn has 39 steals in 46 attempts, as well.
Notables
• The Tigers are weighing a hefty price for a fifth starter, writes Lynn Henning.
The Reds are not selling, says GM Walt Jocketty. Upton believes he'll stay with the Rays, writes Marc Topkin.
• Hiroki Kuroda is known to be a smart and thoughtful person, and those who know him say that if the Dodgers are going to trade him, they probably need to do so sometime today, to give him time to process his options and decide whether he wants to waive his no-trade clause.
And there is a strong belief among rival executives that Kuroda is going to be traded, to either the Yankees or the Red Sox -- although the Dodgers' initial asking price for a top catching or pitching prospect was viewed as very high, considering the fact that Kuroda is owed a significant amount of money for the rest of this year and that he is expected to return to Japan for next season.
The Yankees are not rushing to add to their rotation, writes Joel Sherman. Clay Buchholz is going to see a back specialist.
• The Yankees are still well-positioned to consider options for DH, as they did last year before the trade deadline, with the addition of Lance Berkman -- someone like a Carlos Pena of the Cubs, for example, if the Cubs look to move his contract.
• This is the time of year when opinions can be greatly swayed by one or two performances, and it could be that Jeremy Guthrie opened some eyes by beating the Yankees in Yankee Stadium on Friday. He is available, at the right price, although the Orioles do have a major concern about trading the right-hander: if they deal him, then who replaces him, especially in 2012? Because the Orioles will have a very difficult time luring free agents to cozy Camden Yards, to pitch against the AL East monsters.
• The Pirates are not looking to trade Paul Maholm. Sources say their focus continues to be to add a hitter. Pittsburgh continues to struggle in the power positions.
• The Rangers continue to look for bullpen help. The Padres want Joe Wieland in return for Heath Bell.
• The Twins have been looking for young, controllable relievers, which explains their interest in Drew Storen. The Nationals have been looking for a center fielder.
• There is concern about how Erik Bedard would handle the spotlight, as Scott Lauber writes, and he got lit up by Tampa Bay, an outing which probably crushed his current trade value.
• Rafael Furcal is drawing interest from the Cardinals.
• Kosuke Fukudome will bat sixth and play right field until further notice, writes Dennis Manoloff.
• The Diamondbacks are staying patient as the trade deadline approaches.
• Tim Lincecum seemed floored by Charlie Manuel's comments.
• Stephen Strasburg is getting closer to making a rehab start.
Yanks apparently making a push for Ubaldo now. Trying to sell em on Hughes instead of Nova. Also looking at Pena for a DH slot.
Sox trying to snag Harden and Willingham.
Ubaldo/Pence/other stuff.
Sox trying to snag Harden and Willingham.
Ubaldo/Pence/other stuff.
Spoiler [+]
The interest in Ubaldo Jimenez is divided into two camps. First, there's the group of teams that view him through a glass-half-full prism: They value his overall talent, his window of dominance in 2010, his improved performances this season, and his reputation for being a first-rate person. These teams are satisfied that he's healthy and are ready to make a deal for a player with a very team-friendly contract. The Tigers and Reds are among those teams.
And then there are teams that view him through a glass-half-empty prism: They see the diminished velocity, the overall dip in command and performance this year, and they wonder why Colorado -- a small-market/mid-market team -- would be willing to move a pitcher who is theoretically a No. 1-starter type talent and has a tremendous risk-free contract. And these teams are probably not going to step up and make a deal for Jimenez in the last hours before the trade deadline.
The Rockies are in a strange place today, which other teams consider to be pivotal in the Jimenez talks. If Colorado maintains its very high asking price for the pitcher, then it may have difficulty making a deal. If the Rockies lower their asking price, this will serve as confirmation for some teams that Colorado is intent on moving the pitcher as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the offseason for a deal.
To review, Jimenez's numbers: 6-9, 4.20 in 2011, after going 19-8, 2.88 in 2010. His month-by-month ERA this year:
April 6.75
May 5.45
June 2.45
July 3.77
In the thin air of Colorado this year, he has posted a 5.55 ERA, and on the road, his numbers are much better, with a 2.83 ERA. He ranks 84th among 110 pitchers in BABIP, at .298, which suggests he's been unlucky; last year, he ranked 12th, at .255.
His contract almost couldn't be more attractive for a team looking to acquire an experienced front-line starting pitcher: He's making just $2.8 million this year, $4.2 million in 2012, and he has a team option for $5.75 million in 2013. A 2014 team option for $8 million goes away if he is traded.
There is a perception among other teams that Detroit is desperate to deal for another high-end starter, given the struggles of Brad Penny (opponents have an OPS of .900 against him). Jimenez would fit the Reds' restructured priorities; Cincinnati is trying to improve the team for 2011, but in light of the Reds' slide this week, any major acquisition would have to be able to help in 2012 and maybe beyond. The Reds are looking for a starting pitcher and a leadoff hitter, which is why they've been talking to the Houston Astros about Michael Bourn.
• The question of Jimenez's future is hanging over the Rockies, writes Troy Renck.
Pondering Pence
• Rival officials peg Hunter Pence's arbitration awards at about $10 million and $14-15 million over the next two years, which is why his trade value was never going to be higher than it is right now --and which is why it was the right move for the Astros to trade the outfielder now, for a couple of high-end prospects.
And from the Phillies' perspective, Pence makes the Phillies better now, giving them the veteran right-handed hitter that Charlie Manuel has pined for since spring training. Pence is a high-energy type of person, and it will be interesting to see whether his transition to the Phillies will be smooth -- certainly, he'll be surrounded by better and more experienced players -- or whether he'll have to cope with some anxiety, given the pressures of the situation. Some other teams had pegged Pence as someone not worth the price; we'll see.
The Phillies rounded out their club with the addition of Pence, writes Jim Salisbury. Philadephia kept Domonic Brown, as Jay Greenberg writes. This was the Phillies' latest buzzer beater, as Paul Hagen writes.
Phillies vs LHP This Season
Stat Number MLB Rank
HR 19 T-22nd
Slug pct .356 25th
OBP .308 T-24th
Pence was emotional after getting word of the deal, as Zachary Levine writes.
From ESPN Stats and Info: How does Hunter Pence help the Phillies? For starters, he hits right-handed and the Phils have struggled with lefties all season.
He also has four Defensive Runs Saved this season, better than either of the Phillies' corner outfielders: Pence has four runs saved, Brown minus-3 and Raul Ibanez minus-15.
Hunter Pence's Career
Year BA BABIP
2011 .308 .370
2010 .282 .304
2009 .282 .308
2008 .269 .301
2007 .322 .377
Pence is hitting .308 this season, but he's been helped by an extraordinarily high BABIP. And he's slugging .471 but his 8.1% HR/FB rate and .163 ISO are by far the lowest of his career.
• The Braves missed out on Carlos Beltran, and then Pence, and so now they will presumably pluck one of the lower-tier outfielders who are available -- and in light of the injury to Nate McLouth and the physical problems that have nagged Jordan Schaefer, acquiring a center fielder is a priority, which is why they have had interest in Bourn, Denard Span and Coco Crisp. Their level of interest in B.J. Upton is unclear, but the Rays are willing to move Upton at a price more modest than that of Pence.
Talent evaluators say that the asking price for Bourn is high, and given the bloodletting done with Pence, it's possible that the Astros might decide to keep Bourn, who grew up in Houston. And while the Astros are clearly in rebuilding mode, incoming owner Jim Crane might not want to strip the deal down to its marrow.
"You still have to try to win games," said one team official.
But as with Pence, it's hard to imagine that Bourn's trade value is going to get any higher than it will be in the next 30 hours; he will be eligible for free agency after next season, and his agent is Scott Boras, so there is a strong chance he will walk away from the Astros in 15 months anyway. Bourn is hitting .306, with a .367 on-base percentage, and for the Reds or the Braves, he would be exactly what is needed at the top of their respective lineups. Bourn has 39 steals in 46 attempts, as well.
Notables
• The Tigers are weighing a hefty price for a fifth starter, writes Lynn Henning.
The Reds are not selling, says GM Walt Jocketty. Upton believes he'll stay with the Rays, writes Marc Topkin.
• Hiroki Kuroda is known to be a smart and thoughtful person, and those who know him say that if the Dodgers are going to trade him, they probably need to do so sometime today, to give him time to process his options and decide whether he wants to waive his no-trade clause.
And there is a strong belief among rival executives that Kuroda is going to be traded, to either the Yankees or the Red Sox -- although the Dodgers' initial asking price for a top catching or pitching prospect was viewed as very high, considering the fact that Kuroda is owed a significant amount of money for the rest of this year and that he is expected to return to Japan for next season.
The Yankees are not rushing to add to their rotation, writes Joel Sherman. Clay Buchholz is going to see a back specialist.
• The Yankees are still well-positioned to consider options for DH, as they did last year before the trade deadline, with the addition of Lance Berkman -- someone like a Carlos Pena of the Cubs, for example, if the Cubs look to move his contract.
• This is the time of year when opinions can be greatly swayed by one or two performances, and it could be that Jeremy Guthrie opened some eyes by beating the Yankees in Yankee Stadium on Friday. He is available, at the right price, although the Orioles do have a major concern about trading the right-hander: if they deal him, then who replaces him, especially in 2012? Because the Orioles will have a very difficult time luring free agents to cozy Camden Yards, to pitch against the AL East monsters.
• The Pirates are not looking to trade Paul Maholm. Sources say their focus continues to be to add a hitter. Pittsburgh continues to struggle in the power positions.
• The Rangers continue to look for bullpen help. The Padres want Joe Wieland in return for Heath Bell.
• The Twins have been looking for young, controllable relievers, which explains their interest in Drew Storen. The Nationals have been looking for a center fielder.
• There is concern about how Erik Bedard would handle the spotlight, as Scott Lauber writes, and he got lit up by Tampa Bay, an outing which probably crushed his current trade value.
• Rafael Furcal is drawing interest from the Cardinals.
• Kosuke Fukudome will bat sixth and play right field until further notice, writes Dennis Manoloff.
• The Diamondbacks are staying patient as the trade deadline approaches.
• Tim Lincecum seemed floored by Charlie Manuel's comments.
• Stephen Strasburg is getting closer to making a rehab start.
And then there are teams that view him through a glass-half-empty prism: They see the diminished velocity, the overall dip in command and performance this year, and they wonder why Colorado -- a small-market/mid-market team -- would be willing to move a pitcher who is theoretically a No. 1-starter type talent and has a tremendous risk-free contract. And these teams are probably not going to step up and make a deal for Jimenez in the last hours before the trade deadline.
The Rockies are in a strange place today, which other teams consider to be pivotal in the Jimenez talks. If Colorado maintains its very high asking price for the pitcher, then it may have difficulty making a deal. If the Rockies lower their asking price, this will serve as confirmation for some teams that Colorado is intent on moving the pitcher as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the offseason for a deal.
To review, Jimenez's numbers: 6-9, 4.20 in 2011, after going 19-8, 2.88 in 2010. His month-by-month ERA this year:
April 6.75
May 5.45
June 2.45
July 3.77
In the thin air of Colorado this year, he has posted a 5.55 ERA, and on the road, his numbers are much better, with a 2.83 ERA. He ranks 84th among 110 pitchers in BABIP, at .298, which suggests he's been unlucky; last year, he ranked 12th, at .255.
His contract almost couldn't be more attractive for a team looking to acquire an experienced front-line starting pitcher: He's making just $2.8 million this year, $4.2 million in 2012, and he has a team option for $5.75 million in 2013. A 2014 team option for $8 million goes away if he is traded.
There is a perception among other teams that Detroit is desperate to deal for another high-end starter, given the struggles of Brad Penny (opponents have an OPS of .900 against him). Jimenez would fit the Reds' restructured priorities; Cincinnati is trying to improve the team for 2011, but in light of the Reds' slide this week, any major acquisition would have to be able to help in 2012 and maybe beyond. The Reds are looking for a starting pitcher and a leadoff hitter, which is why they've been talking to the Houston Astros about Michael Bourn.
• The question of Jimenez's future is hanging over the Rockies, writes Troy Renck.
Pondering Pence
• Rival officials peg Hunter Pence's arbitration awards at about $10 million and $14-15 million over the next two years, which is why his trade value was never going to be higher than it is right now --and which is why it was the right move for the Astros to trade the outfielder now, for a couple of high-end prospects.
And from the Phillies' perspective, Pence makes the Phillies better now, giving them the veteran right-handed hitter that Charlie Manuel has pined for since spring training. Pence is a high-energy type of person, and it will be interesting to see whether his transition to the Phillies will be smooth -- certainly, he'll be surrounded by better and more experienced players -- or whether he'll have to cope with some anxiety, given the pressures of the situation. Some other teams had pegged Pence as someone not worth the price; we'll see.
The Phillies rounded out their club with the addition of Pence, writes Jim Salisbury. Philadephia kept Domonic Brown, as Jay Greenberg writes. This was the Phillies' latest buzzer beater, as Paul Hagen writes.
Phillies vs LHP This Season
Stat Number MLB Rank
HR 19 T-22nd
Slug pct .356 25th
OBP .308 T-24th
Pence was emotional after getting word of the deal, as Zachary Levine writes.
From ESPN Stats and Info: How does Hunter Pence help the Phillies? For starters, he hits right-handed and the Phils have struggled with lefties all season.
He also has four Defensive Runs Saved this season, better than either of the Phillies' corner outfielders: Pence has four runs saved, Brown minus-3 and Raul Ibanez minus-15.
Hunter Pence's Career
Year BA BABIP
2011 .308 .370
2010 .282 .304
2009 .282 .308
2008 .269 .301
2007 .322 .377
Pence is hitting .308 this season, but he's been helped by an extraordinarily high BABIP. And he's slugging .471 but his 8.1% HR/FB rate and .163 ISO are by far the lowest of his career.
• The Braves missed out on Carlos Beltran, and then Pence, and so now they will presumably pluck one of the lower-tier outfielders who are available -- and in light of the injury to Nate McLouth and the physical problems that have nagged Jordan Schaefer, acquiring a center fielder is a priority, which is why they have had interest in Bourn, Denard Span and Coco Crisp. Their level of interest in B.J. Upton is unclear, but the Rays are willing to move Upton at a price more modest than that of Pence.
Talent evaluators say that the asking price for Bourn is high, and given the bloodletting done with Pence, it's possible that the Astros might decide to keep Bourn, who grew up in Houston. And while the Astros are clearly in rebuilding mode, incoming owner Jim Crane might not want to strip the deal down to its marrow.
"You still have to try to win games," said one team official.
But as with Pence, it's hard to imagine that Bourn's trade value is going to get any higher than it will be in the next 30 hours; he will be eligible for free agency after next season, and his agent is Scott Boras, so there is a strong chance he will walk away from the Astros in 15 months anyway. Bourn is hitting .306, with a .367 on-base percentage, and for the Reds or the Braves, he would be exactly what is needed at the top of their respective lineups. Bourn has 39 steals in 46 attempts, as well.
Notables
• The Tigers are weighing a hefty price for a fifth starter, writes Lynn Henning.
The Reds are not selling, says GM Walt Jocketty. Upton believes he'll stay with the Rays, writes Marc Topkin.
• Hiroki Kuroda is known to be a smart and thoughtful person, and those who know him say that if the Dodgers are going to trade him, they probably need to do so sometime today, to give him time to process his options and decide whether he wants to waive his no-trade clause.
And there is a strong belief among rival executives that Kuroda is going to be traded, to either the Yankees or the Red Sox -- although the Dodgers' initial asking price for a top catching or pitching prospect was viewed as very high, considering the fact that Kuroda is owed a significant amount of money for the rest of this year and that he is expected to return to Japan for next season.
The Yankees are not rushing to add to their rotation, writes Joel Sherman. Clay Buchholz is going to see a back specialist.
• The Yankees are still well-positioned to consider options for DH, as they did last year before the trade deadline, with the addition of Lance Berkman -- someone like a Carlos Pena of the Cubs, for example, if the Cubs look to move his contract.
• This is the time of year when opinions can be greatly swayed by one or two performances, and it could be that Jeremy Guthrie opened some eyes by beating the Yankees in Yankee Stadium on Friday. He is available, at the right price, although the Orioles do have a major concern about trading the right-hander: if they deal him, then who replaces him, especially in 2012? Because the Orioles will have a very difficult time luring free agents to cozy Camden Yards, to pitch against the AL East monsters.
• The Pirates are not looking to trade Paul Maholm. Sources say their focus continues to be to add a hitter. Pittsburgh continues to struggle in the power positions.
• The Rangers continue to look for bullpen help. The Padres want Joe Wieland in return for Heath Bell.
• The Twins have been looking for young, controllable relievers, which explains their interest in Drew Storen. The Nationals have been looking for a center fielder.
• There is concern about how Erik Bedard would handle the spotlight, as Scott Lauber writes, and he got lit up by Tampa Bay, an outing which probably crushed his current trade value.
• Rafael Furcal is drawing interest from the Cardinals.
• Kosuke Fukudome will bat sixth and play right field until further notice, writes Dennis Manoloff.
• The Diamondbacks are staying patient as the trade deadline approaches.
• Tim Lincecum seemed floored by Charlie Manuel's comments.
• Stephen Strasburg is getting closer to making a rehab start.
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I'm really hoping we can get Michael Bourn for the right price.
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I'm really hoping we can get Michael Bourn for the right price.
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