Keeping my fingers crossed that our front office is paying close attention to the Haren deal as it has given us an indication of what the market is (or isn't) AND what not to do. The general perception among baseball insiders is that the D'backs didn't get near enough in return for Haren. We know the market's at least what they got...probably more. Problem is, I have little to no faith in those guys...I wish Morey was running the show over there, too.
How often do you see this happen? How often do you see this happen? That's not true - they make trades because they specifically need players now; or they specifically need players later; or they need players of a specific position. When do you see someone trade to see if the player is going to like their clubhouse and hopefully give them a discount? Certainly - like I said, if you can't get the prospects you're looking for from any of the interested teams, then Kemp is an alternative. And yeah, you could then try to flip him this winter. But I'm just saying if the options are prospects you want vs. a Kemp that you want, the Astros should go for the prospects.
Quite a bit. Players sign team friendly deals to stay where they are all the time (unless they are Scott Boras clients). Not very often, because there aren't that many guys like that. Though it could be that teams are just very good at covering up for their coke-head, hooker-abusing players and I just haven't heard about it. I know that the way the Cubs felt about signing Milton Bradley to a giant contract before they had him around on a daily basis and after they'd had him on the team for a year were very different. I also do know that there is a persistent rumor that the Phillies are willing to part ways with Jayson Werth is because he is sleeping with Chase Utley's wife. But if he had been with another team, given the Phillies crappy offense, it would be logical to try and trade for someone like him, rather than get rid of him. So I think it is reasonable to say that interpersonal issues seem to have a really big effect on the personnel decisions of most teams.
Maybe, but the Phillies have Brown who they think is ready and they gave up a lot to get Halladay (that's why they didn't keep Lee), am pretty sure their not going to re-sign Werth so they might as well get a prospect or two BTW I don't think the Dodgers would trade Kemp and prospects for Oswalt, but i'd trade Oswalt & Bourn for Kemp & some prospects
It's kind of a moot point because you're not getting a major league player of Kemp's talent, age, contract for Oswalt. But yeah, if the Dodgers are dumb enough to be willing to move Kemp you do it in a heartbeat. Looney, maybe not so much...
Irrelevant but I just looked up some pics of Utley's wife. Let's put it this way... hard to blame Werth if it's true.
Sounds like the Cardinals are out... Fine with me. The Astros would have had to pay a chunk of Oswalt's salary and the Cards didn't have crap to send back. 1 semi top prospect and 2 crappy major leaguers didn't exactly scream "WHAT A BARGAIN!"
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/roy-oswalt-deal-looking-unlikely-72610 Source: Oswalt probably not going anywhere The Roy Oswalt sweepstakes could be headed for a stalemate. Oswalt does not want to go to the Phillies in a trade, a source with direct knowledge of his thinking said Monday. The Cardinals, meanwhile, do not feel confident in their ability to land Oswalt, another source said the previous day. "I'd be surprised if Oswalt goes (anywhere)," an AL executive said. "It sounds like both he and the Astros are difficult." Oswalt has a full no-trade clause that effectively enables him to pick his next team. He has strongly indicated that his preference is the Cardinals. If the Phillies and Astros reach a trade agreement, the Phillies could attempt to persuade Oswalt to waive his no-trade clause, perhaps by offering to guarantee his $16 million club option for 2012. Oswalt, though, could employ the same strategy that Phillies right-hander Roy Halladay did last offseason, holding out for the team of his choice — in this case, the Cardinals. At that point, if the Astros and Cardinals could not agree on players, then Oswalt simply would not be traded. The Astros have believed for some time that it would be difficult to trade with the Cardinals. There isn't an obvious match on players, and the teams are in the same division, which is problematic. Philadelphia is one of the more viable landing spots for Oswalt, sources say. The Dodgers have also shown interest, but bristled when the the Astros asked for major-league position players — most likely center fielder Matt Kemp or first baseman James Loney — in an Oswalt package. The Dodgers' limited payroll flexibility makes it questionable whether they can afford Oswalt's contract, particularly for the rest of this season. Oswalt is earning $15 million this year and $16 million in 2011. The Astros hold a $16 million club option for 2012 with a $2 million buyout. But Oswalt told FOXSports.com during spring training that his career would be "done" after next season. "This year and next year will probably be it," he said then. "I still love the game. ... But when I get finished with my contract, if I'm not pitching at the level I'm pitching at now, then I'm not going to come back and hurt the team." Oswalt is 6-12 with a 3.42 ERA in 20 starts this season. He surrendered six earned runs over five innings in his last outing.
Roy is starting to make me mad. HE's the one who demanded out when he was upset with his lack of run support. HE's the one who asked to only be traded to a contender. Suddenly when we have suitors, he wants to get even more picky about where he wants to play? What's your alternative Roy.. think about it. It's us and being at the bottom with us for the next few years. Oswalt isn't doing us any favors by trying to bully us into a specific team. We're not going to take a 2nd-rate package for Oswalt just because he's crying about playing for a team that has been in the World Series the past two years. This is getting ridiculous.
^^^Sounds about right. Never really thought he was going to be traded. BTW, thanks for providing the link.
Punch to the Junk, the guy that took you to the series may be the one that kills the franchise for the near future. I hope this is just false info because Roy could have gone to the 2-time defending NL champs and chose not to, SUCKS. I hope the Stros turn their attention to Wandy, Myers and Berkman to see if they can get something cooking for those guys.
It "sounds like"? Wow Ken, way to find a random executive that isn't even involved in the discussions. That sure means a lot! This is classic posturing, and Ken Rosenthal attempting to cover his ass after authoritatively claiming all summer that Oswalt had minimal value. There's going to be all sorts of posturing this week. Roy does want to go to STL over Philly, that much is true. But the Cardinals don't have a lot in terms of young players, so the Astros will drive a hard bargain for them, that STL initially won't want to give up. So they'll leak stories like this to the media in an effort to bring the Astros back to the table. Meanwhile, the Astros will continue to talk to other teams, in an effort to make the Cards worry and pony up. It's a game, and it's only the 26th. Unfortunately, many media folks have been played and continue to take the bait hook, line and sinker. Unless Drayton is a complete buffoon, Roy will be traded by Saturday. I'm confident of that. This is a classic case of deadline posturing, and the best media sources are ones that cut through it and see what's really going on. Fairly certain Rosenthal is off, as he has been for months...
There's also report that on the day Roy Oswalt was attempting to tie Niekro's record, Roy was on the phone with a unnamed Cardinal talking about how he wanted to join them. Maybe not a big deal but just throwing that out there.
I think it depends on how obstinate Roy is - and how much he wants to go to a particular team vs just a better chance to win. If he refuses to go anywhere but St. Louis, the Astros lose all their leverage and it becomes a game of chicken whether the Astros are willing to take less or the Cardinals are willing to risk not getting him. In that scenario, I think there's a realistic chance of him not getting traded.
