Winn, Byrnes, Bigbie, and Cruz Jr. There are also the 1B types like Nevin that could move Berkman to the outfield. Cameron, Huff, Lawton and a few others are still rumored to likely be on the move. None are all that great, but each would be a huge upgrade on Chris Burke. If we're looking at dealing a prospect with some credibility like Nieve, I don't understand why we can't look at a position where even an average hitter is a tremendous upgrade and instead focus on acquiring a player at our position (SP) with the most depth.
no ****! nothing against moyer but isnt improving our rotation about as far down the list as you can get? certainly not at the cost of a decent prospect either. at this point i have no problem with our team as is and the details of this trade makes me skeptical on pupura' s thinking should we make a trade.
There are no "big bats" on the market other then Manny "I'm A Plague To My Team" Ramirez... and there really haven't been any for months. All of the names you mention are NOT improvements on our current rotations of Palmeiro, Lane, Lamb & Burke... giving up two great prospects to get 10-15 more points in batting average doesn't make any sense. There are no big run producers on the board and that is why there hasn't been any action... and Purpura has said from day one that he would not jeopardize our prospects for a 3 month rental player, and I'm happy about that. It made sense with Johnson and Beltran, but it doesn't make sense now because there are no players anywhere near their caliber available at a reasonable price.
I didn't ask for a big bat. I'm asking for an average to slightly above average one. It's much more than 10-15 points in batting average. It's the potential for at least the threat of a home run or extra bases. It's the potential to draw a walk. It's the potential for all sorts of runs that Chris Burke simply can't provide at that position. Chris Burke is a starting corner outfielder with an OPS around .650. That's unacceptable. If you platoon him with Palmeiro, that helps, but Palmeiro's history shows you that he's unlikely to continue his production over the long haul. I'm not asking two give two great prospects for Adam Dunn or some other big run producer. I'm asking to sacrifice one solid prospect for a reliable .750 - .800 OPS-type bat in left field, and unless you think Palmeiro's numbers will continue, we don't have one of those on this roster. That's unlikely to work if we want to contend for a championship. Maybe Palmeiro will continue to play as he is and Purpura's faith will be rewarded... but as much as I love Orlando, that's not a risk I'd be willing to take. Maybe the asking prices for the Lawton/Bigbie types are just too high, but I have a hard time believing Nieve and another prospect (what we offered for Moyer) couldn't get it done.
I can't believe people are suggesting trading Burke, a five-tool player who hasn't even played a full season of MLB ball, for a Lawton/Winn type bat. Lawton/Winn will always be mediocre players at best, whereas Burke has the potential to be greater. I'm glad you're not the GM.
I think you need to look up what the term "five tool player" means. However, I would not give up Burke for Moyer either. He may pitch well in Safeco, but take a look at his road splits.
A person who hits for average, hits for power, can steal bases, good defense, a plus arm. Burke's stats last season in AAA: 37 SB .315 AVG 16 HR .507 SLG Has always been considered a plus defender with a good arm.
hold up, chief. he had a great season in AAA. he ain't a 5 tool guy in the bigs. and he's not going to be. i don't see anyone out there on the market i'm jazzed about, though. burke's numbers are what they are right now...but they're improving. and i think they'll continue to improve. i think we have the ability to win and contend this year without giving up ANY of our very few good young players.
WOw - this would have been a rip off. Moyer's career is dwindling FAST, and Nieve is maybe one of our 3 best pitching prospects - if this is the price for the guys our there, I don't want to make a deal.
Whether you want to argue if he's a five-tool player isn't the point. He hasnt even played a full season yet!! This is the first time he's seeing these pitchers. Are his numbers bad? Yes. But after some serious growing pains including him batting .179 and getting demoted, he got his average up to .260 before having his playing time cut into. He has been improving throughout the season as he gets acclimated to major league pitching. Isn't that exactly what you want your prospects to do? This guy was our best prospect for 3 years for a reason, and some people want to trade him for the likes of Randy Winn and LAwton after watching him play for a little over half a season?
I'll take Burke and our best team in the league over the last half of the season over trading a prospect away for any of the guys who were traded yesterday. People keep saying we need to make a trade for a bat, but two months is not a fluke. It's just not. OPS and whatever other stat one wants to throw out be damned.
You can always get better. We havn't exactly been knocking the cover off the ball so an extra bat will help. The reason we have been winning is because our pitching has been unbelievable, and I have a hard time believing that bringing in an extra bat will mess up our pitching chemestry.
We don't need another pitcher, and we don't need to trade Burke or Nieve. Moyer saved us from a bad move by Pupura. Better to make no trade than a bad one.
Mind telling me where I suggested trading Burke for one of those? I'm suggesting replacing Burke in the lineup for the next two months with one of these guys because Burke isn't ready this season. I'm not suggesting trading Burke altogether. Keep him on the bench or let him go back to AAA to get some starts and let's try again next season or whenever he's more ready to be a MLB starter. He's not right now.
I'm sorry, but Randy Winn, Jose Cruz, Jr., Bigbie or Byrnes will not put this team (the same team who has been the best in the majors over the last two months) over the top. It's not worth even thinking about getting your panties in a wad over not acquiring these guys.
