Have to think they're both untouchable, but....here's hoping. One time please. Either alone would be a better package than Garza or Peavy returned.
Well that is the key in my opinion, if the potential prospects he brings back are high level guys, then i'd completely agree. But if we are only offered lower rated guys then you keep him. Also, I don't see why his production would have already peaked, at 28 years old in his 4th full season in the big leagues
Yea i'd be good with Fontana and/or Deshields being included in a deal, but only if it were for a package including an absolute top shelf prospect.
Because history has shown that a guy with his overall makeup (fastball/slider pitcher) is likely to have better years as a starter before age 30 than after... And certainly more production based on what you're paying for. (Unless he learns how to throw a good knuckleball and pitches till he's 45) You don't need top level guys... Hell, Norris himself wasn't a top level guy. He's not even what Wandy was when we traded him.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Norris continues to get a lot of interest from Giants, Pirates, with teams like D'Backs, Rangers talking.</p>— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) <a href="https://twitter.com/pgammo/statuses/362608499924013056">July 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Seriously doubt that they're going to give up organizational depth at this stage of the rebuild. They still don't know for sure what they have in any if these guys. Fontana is a guy who I'd rather be giving MLB at bats to now over guys like Elmore and Matt Dominguez.
I don't think that just because there aren't tweets about him, that means he won't be moved. Certainly isn't a name being talked about a lot, but I still wouldn't be surprised if he is moved.
Ok, fair enough. I've just never thought of guys at 28 and in their 4th full season as on the downside, but never thought about the makeup of his stuff and that he will soon start to slide significantly because of it. That is probably why we aren't getting any offers for him we like. On the other hand, if he does the knuckleball thing you mention, dang that would get him another 17 years, certainly we will be good enough by then for him to help?
It's not a universal thing. There are certainly some pitchers like him that noticeably improved as they got older (Randy Johnson) but most of those guys possessed better raw stuff. Do you honestly think Norris' raw stuff is that great? Do you feel he's going to continue to hone and refine his game and continue to build on his current repertoire? He's more Aaron Harang than he is Randy Johnson... And Harang totally peaked at age 28-29, got paid, and was an average to below average starter for the rest of his career. Bud's age is the best value he has... his lack of potential for future improvement/dominance is the detractor. Teams have a pretty good idea of what he is. He's more likely to suffer an arm injury or just continue to regress than he is to blossom into a career above avg starter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Latest on Bud Norris: Atlanta has jumped into foray. Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Arizona still possibilities. General sense: He'll be dealt.</p>— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/statuses/362614027496587268">July 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Rob Biertempfel covers the Pirates for the Pittsburgh Tribune. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>I've heard if <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a> are willing to consider bundle of low-level prospects for Norris, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Pirates&src=hash">#Pirates</a> have interest and ability</p>— Rob Biertempfel (@BiertempfelTrib) <a href="https://twitter.com/BiertempfelTrib/statuses/362614093313613824">July 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Thats ideal... get to a point where you pitting teams against each other with 30 minutes left to the deadline and squeeze a top prospect out of someone.
