G.M Mind Games
From The Journal News:
Brian Cashman is breaking down every roster looking for a center fielder who can track down balls in the gaps and hit ninth. Mike Cameron is the ideal fit, but the Mets won’t make that move unless they get Robinson Cano in return. Randy Winn (Seattle) or Eric Byrnes (Colorado) would come much cheaper.
Cashman has vowed that the Yankees will not add considerably to their payroll or trade any of their best young players, such as Cano or Class AA third baseman Eric Duncan. It’s a brave stance considering Cashman is in the final year of his contract.
“How many people in his position would do the same thing?” Boston GM Theo Epstein said. “You have to respect what Brian is doing.”
IIRC, Theo’s contract is up at the end of the year, like Cashman.
And, from the Palm Beach Post:
As Baltimore backed out of the Burnett talks Saturday, the Red Sox were said to be making a serious push for the right-hander. Sources say Boston General Manager Theo Epstein wants Burnett badly enough that he is willing to give up right-hander Bronson Arroyo and highly regarded right-handed prospect Anibal Sanchez.
This week could be the real Boston-New York Poker Challenge.
As a Sox fan who posts here regularly, let me go on record as saying I do NOT want this to happen. In no way do I want Burnett on my team.
I happen to look at Burnett in the same light as I do Pavano: an average pitcher in the NL East, which outside of the Braves on most nights, is pretty much the same offensive dumpster as the NL West. Racking up stats every now and then against the Metropolitans is not my idea of a lights out, mid-season pick-up. Here’s a guy with a below .500 W/L record, an average ERA for where he’s at, and a questionable record of durability.
FWIW, both the Yanks and the Sox should stay away from this guy. If anything over the past three years has been bright and clear it’s the fact that average NL pitchers do not normally fare well in the big-boy division that is the AL East. It takes pitchers like Schilling and Johnson to actully have immediate success in this league, and one thing a mid-season pickup must be is immediate. There is no room for acclimation or excuses – when a guy is picked up at the deadline as a starting pitcher, he’s gotta come out of the gates with gas, and I don’t think Burnett is the guy.
I’m much happier with the Sox going after Wagner if they are going to deal good parts. Bronson does an adequate job, and with Foulke undergoing surgery, Timlin not likely to repeat his first half, and Schilling needed in the rotation to have Miller or Arroyo moved to the pen, Wagner makes much more sense. FWIW, I’d rather have Sanchez (the bait in the deal) on the staff than Burnett. The only smart thing this possibly does is block the Yanks from getting him, and since I’m not a proponent of dirty baseball tactics, that reason is not good enough for me.
Giving up good players for pitchers in the walk years is not good baseball business, especially in the form of good young pitchers. Just my thoughts.
Phillies are in the race, why would they trade Wagner?
Yeah, I really don’t know. However, I do know that his name has been mentioned in almost every trade rumor for teams that can get him, and are in need of bullpen help. My only guess is: it’s his walk year, and he has more than one time expressed his negative emotions towards the Phillies. I think the Phillies know he’s going to ask for at least 9mill/annum, and we all know Philly is not going to do it.
I happen to be in the majority here, and think it’s going to happen, if not Boston then somewhere. Philly is in the race in the East, but everyone knows they are not going to get very far, including them. Tome is locked up for just about forever, and nobody wants him. The Phills are MLB’s biggest under achievers, so when you combine this with the fact that Wagner is going to walk anyhow, it could happen.
I suppose if they move Wagner, they could put Urbina in the closer’s role…
Wagner hasn’t been thrilled pitching in Philly, is he going to want to pitch in Fenway?
Wagner hasn’t been thrilled pitching in Philly, is he going to want to pitch in Fenway?
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Depends on the reason(s) he isn’t thrilled pitching in Philly.