Would the Angels be interested in Berkman? I know they had a deal for D. Lee but he rejected it and their having similar seasons
And for what it's worth, my apologies to Mailman for calling him out too early. Wallace certainly fits the category as a top prospect. I doubt he'll care but I felt that I should say it. I still think he's a little too high on Wade but that's probably a good thing with so many people in the other camp based on very little evidence. I try to stay neutral on Wade at this point but I took some shots at him today, partly for comedic effect and partly because I wasn't too excited about the trade initially. I was wrong for that as well no matter how these prospects turn out.
In fact, Marte had a similar SLG% and OPS in the minors (without looking at park factors) and was rated as highly as 9th by BA before flaming out in the big leagues. He's still young enough where there is a slight chance he could turn it around but it's unlikely given that he's about to turn 27.
Where does he fit? Berkman wants to play 1st and they have one of the best in the game in Adrian Gonzalez. I think if Berkman is traded, it would be to a team like the Yankees or White Sox who need a DH.
Well, what does he want more...play 1st or play on a 1st place team??? He could fit back in the outfield and really help that offense.
Good call on the White Sox, Olney just reported Berkman is one of their plan Bs if they don't get Dunn.
He really doesn't want to be traded if he read some of his quotes. He has a full no trade clause and no team would think about exercising his $15 million dollar team option for next year. You can't really expect a 34 year old who hasn't played much outfield the last 5 years to be open to making that move to the outfield. If he is traded, I think a more likely option is the White Sox or Yankees. Both teams are in play for Adam Dunn as well.
@Buster_ESPN: Heard this: The White Sox consider Lance Berkman as one of their Plan B options, now what they don't expect to get Adam Dunn.
ESPN Insider article from Olney Phillies win Oswalt deal, Astros get value July, 29, 2010 Jul 29 5:45 PM ET * Email * Print * Comments Bob Levey/Getty ImagesThe Astros' hands were tied a bit by Oswalt's no-trade clause, but Houston still got value in the deal. Roy Oswalt makes the Phillies two or three wins better for the rest of the season, given what they've been running out there and the injury to Jamie Moyer, and sets them up much better for a playoff series by eliminating the possibility of an October start by a J.A. Happ or a Kyle Kendrick. While Oswalt isn't the 220- to 240-inning workhorse he was earlier in the decade, on a per-batter basis, he is pretty close to his peak self. Since his stuff has slipped only slightly since then, he is a reasonable bet for the next 15 months. Given the low cost in prospects, it's a no-brainer for the Phillies and should make Atlanta look over its shoulder a little more. Happ is a fifth-starter type with good command and deception but fringy stuff without a real knockout pitch. He's a particularly bad fit for Houston's ballpark as a left-handed fly ball pitcher who has had some trouble with right-handed hitters. He's also coming off a forearm strain that has ruined his 2010 season. Other than that, he's everything you could ask for in a pitcher. Jonathan Villar is a long-term project, a plus runner with a chance to be a plus defender all around at shortstop, but he is extremely raw at the plate and projects to have fringe-average power at best. He's a good guy to have in the system because of the defensive ability and the hope he can get on base enough to be more than Adam Everett. Anthony Gose had attracted first-round attention out of high school as a left-handed pitcher who would pitch at 92-96 mph with a potentially plus curveball, but he insisted he wanted to go out as a position player and remains more tools than performance at this point. He struggles to recognize offspeed stuff and doesn't walk, and despite good leverage in his swing, he has hit for almost no power in more than 1,000 pro plate appearances. He wraps his bat but does have good hand speed and seems to recover well once he gets his bat started. He's a plus runner, but his 57 percent stolen base success rate this year is comically bad, and while he can run enough for center, his feel for the position isn't great. He's headed to Toronto in a side deal that could not possibly make less sense to me. Brett Wallace goes to Houston in exchange for Gose in what has to be the easiest "yes" of Ed Wade's life as a GM. He's an advanced hitter who has been adequate in Triple-A this year but hasn't raked as I would have expected, given what a good hitter's park that is. However, he has an outstanding swing and controls the strike zone well, doesn't show the platoon split so common in left-handed hitting prospects and was just 23 in Triple-A. He's twice as valuable a prospect as Gose. Despite concerns over his lateral mobility, he's a capable first baseman who will hit for average, get on base and have enough power to be an above-average or better player there. Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos keeps emphasizing how he wants to get more athletic ... I'm just not sure how converting Michael Taylor into Anthony Gose makes the Blue Jays more athletic -- it just makes them worse off. And while Wallace plus Villar isn't a great return for Houston, its hands were somewhat tied by the contract and Oswalt's no-trade clause. I do wonder whether Wallace's arrival means Lance Berkman is next out the door, which would give Houston another chance to add an impact prospect and allow it to slide Wallace right in at first base.
good writeup. especially like the part about us being able to possibly attract an impact prospect in return for puma.
