Better late than never!

Here is our opinions of the trades that happen in the last week winter meetings. Sorry for the delay!

1. Twins and Ray

TWINS GET : Delmon Young, Brendan Harris, Jason Pridie

RAY GET : Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, Eduardo Morlan

Winner
This trade is so close to a wash as it gets, both teams lose players from their systems that they have had prior bad blood with, Delmon Young threw a bat at an umpire and was suspended two seasons ago, along with a fall out with manager Joe Madden at the end of last season. Matt Garza at the end of spring training called out the Twin's organization and told the media how disappointed and robbed that he felt for not making the opening day roster. But both are the headliners of the trade. I think that if I had to pick a winner it is the Twin's, they are getting the more proven player in Young, and if he finds a way to walk a little more he could be a top 25 hitter in baseball in the near future. And they get a guy in Pridie (AAA prospect) that will compete for the starting gig in center next year. Where Garza on the other hand is unproven in the bigs, but will fit nicely as the number three after Kazmir and Shields next season.

2. White Sox and D-Backs

WHITE SOX GET:
OF Carlos Quentin
D-BACKS GET:
1B Chris Carter

Winner
Still up in the air because who knows how good this Carter guy is going to be. Has been reported by Baseball America as has good pop to all fields, but would see the field in Arizona anytime soon. Just a AA prospect last season. And the White Sox acquirer a guy that will compete for a starting role in left next season. I can’t pick a winner, but I can certainly pick a loser if that makes any sense at all. The D-Backs main goal of the off-season is to make a deal for a pitcher, and they still haven’t done that. Now Carlos Quentin has a lot of upside and has proven that he can hit in AAA, which would draw some interest from teams that would be willing to give them that lower tier hurler the D-Backs most desperately need. We just don’t understand the point of trading him for someone that wouldn’t help you right now, or at least holding the deal off a couple of weeks until you make the move. They are reportedly in on Dan Haren from the Athletics, and Quentin isn’t talented enough to make the deal by himself, but could have been a nice late throw in if talks with Billy Bean started to go south, and now he is unavailable. To reiterate, the D-Backs drop the ball on this one.

3. Nats And D-Ray

NATIONALS GET:
OF Elijah Dukes
RAYS GET:
LHP Glenn Gibson

Winner
When this deal first broke the Rays gave the Nats, Dukes for a player to be named later, which makes you assume that they are just giving him up for any Tom, Dick, or Harry in the the Nationals system. Which is why I was surprised to see that the Nats had to give up Gibson. Gibson was the same player that Bowden balked at a few months prior when the Rays first discussed the trade and that is why it didn’t go down during the season. He is a young left handed pitcher that averaged a K per inning last season. It is rare to see both teams get exactly what they want from a trade, but it looks like everyone is happy here. Both Win in this case.

4. Cubs and Braves

BRAVES GET:
LHP Will Ohman
IF Omar Infante
CUBS GET:
RHP Jose Ascanio

Winners
I really like this trade for the Cubs, They get rid of two player that will earn about 4 million dollars together next year, and neither are important to the team. The Cubs have enough lefties in the pen and more utility infielders riding the bench. And in return they get a hard throwing right hander that has a good slider, and could make a run at the pen rotation next season if the Cubs use any of those other arms to make a big move. I think he will end up throwing for the AAA club to start the season, but could become a major factor in a year or two.

5. The big one

TIGERS GET:
3B Miguel Cabrera
LHP Dontrelle Willis
MARLINS GET:
OF Cameron Maybin
LHP Andrew Miller
C Mike Rabelo
RHP Eulogio De La Cruz
RHP Burke Badenhop
RHP Dallas Trahern

Winners
Short run: Obviously the Tigers, they get one of the best hitters in baseball along filling out a top three of a rotation that could be considered the best in baseball along with right handers Verlander and Bonderman. Long Run: I think the only way that the Tigers aren’t kicking themselves if they win the World Series. Cameron Maybin is going to be a star in this league, I just hope that the Marlins do the right thing and put him in the minors for a little but longer, he is just 20 years old, and still has a lot to learn about the game. Andrew Miller and Dontrelle could be a wash this season, I really think that Miller with they right pitching coach, to help with some mechanical issues could see better success in every category then Dontrelle next year except wins, for obvious reasons.

6. Nats and Yankees

NATIONALS GET:
RP Jonathan Albaladejo
YANKEES GET:
SP Tyler Clippard

I like this move for the Nats, they get a guy that can compete with their other young kids for a spot in the rotation. In the one start I saw of Clippard’s, I saw some really good things. And lets face it, the Nat’s need pitching. On the other hand the Yankee’s get hard throwing right-hander that will step right in as a middle reliever. I still like the move for the Nats, just because of there major need.

7. The trade of never will be's

TIGERS GET:
OF Freddy Guzman
RANGERS GET:
1B Chris Shelton

Freddy Guzman was out of options, and Shelton has been the most expendable player in the majors after April 30th 2006. Where the first basemen put up career numbers in the month, and really hasn’t hit well sense. I think it is a good move for Texas to get Shelton just because they have nobody else to play first, but he will not make an impact on this team unless luck strikes twice.

Signing
1. Andruw Jones to the Dodgers

This was a great move by Colletti, he gets the middle of the order pop that he needed and didn’t have to give up the farm, or break the bank over a long period of time. Andruw gets a very large signing bonus, 12 million, but it is a low risk considering if they were to sign him after last season they would be paying more than the Blue Jays are paying Wells and for 5 years also. And as a side note this gives the Dodgers a chance to move Pierre to left so the defense gets better. Or move him to any sucker that will take that contract, can you say Rangers.


That was really the only big signing that happened last week. It was a good week of rumors galore, and if you are interested in good rumors year round check out the MLB trade rumors link on the right side of the page.

Scott

Hudson struck out a career-high 12, but goes a batter too long

Tim Hudson last night coasted through 8 innings striking out 12 in the process, and the way Hudson was rolling and his pitch count around 100. Bobby Cox decided to trot him back out there for the 9th inning to finish what he had started. An idea which surprised me at the time, but I understood what Cox was thinking, go with your hot hand even if your bullpen has been lights out all year. So with a three run lead Hudson lead the inning of with a pitch right over the plate to Miguel Cabrera, which counted for a single. Nothing to worry about, then Cody Ross does the same on a bad pitch again. Now I know I’m playing Monday morning quarterback on this one, but with Wickman up and ready in the pen and the tying runner coming to the plate, Cox let Hudson throw to Aaron Boone, which again he singled. Now with the bases loaded he goes out to get Hudson, a batter too late. In result Wickman gets his first blown save of the year and they give up a chance to take first place from the Mets in this very young season. Marlins player Aaron Boone said after the game “We got dominated for absolutely two hours, and then win in the last 15 or 20 minutes."

Don’t get me wrong Bobby Cox is one of the best managers in baseball and wouldn't be going out on a limb to say one of the best of all time, 14 straight division titles and 94’ world series sounds like a pretty good resume to me. But this just shows that even the best don’t make the correct decisions all the time. And it is impossible to be perfect in this funny game. But as a coach myself, there is nothing harder then telling your players that they did everything that they need to on that given night to win, and you didn’t because of a coaching error on your part.

I have Wickman on my fantasy baseball team (good post on fantasy sports clay) and admittedly the only reason i was paying some much attention to the last inning of this game. But if there is any trouble in the 9th, the book says go to the closer. That’s why you pay him the big bucks. And don't wait until the bases are loaded!!

Scott Riley

A-Rod is A-mazing in A-pril

For those of you who think that baseball is too boring and too slow paced I would like to introduce you to a baseball player by the name of Alex Rodriguez. He is the third baseman for the New York Yankees and having the greatest 18 games to start a season ever. He has hit 14 homeruns during those games and driven in 34 runs also. He is currently tied for the most homeruns ever hit in the month of April and is just a few RBI's away from breaking that record also. I personally am happy for A-Rod and the success he is having this season after how poorly he was treated last season not only by Yankee fans, but the media, his teammates and his coaches as well.

Alex Rodriguez won the AL MVP in 2005 with the New York Yankees and then during the 2006 season was completely thrown under the bus by the media, teammates, fans, and even his manager, Joe Torre. Just because A-Rod didn't have a typical year where he hit .300 and had 40+ HR and drive in 130 RBI's the fans called for his head and booed every time he came to the plate. The media made him the whipping boy for the Yankees losses and ignored the fact that their pitching rotation was decimated with injuries and that half their roster was in the big leagues when A-Rod was first playing T-Ball. His teammates called him a bad teammate and singled him out about his "lack" of production. The classy and flashy captain of the Yanks, Derek Jeter, even called him out at one point last year. Jason Giambi said that he needed to deliver more and hold up his end. To me this was hilarious because it wasn't too long ago that this steroid injecting slugger was in A-Rod's shoes: the lucrative contract, the high expectations, and the massive disappointment from the fans. You would think that this guy would side with A-Rod and stick up for him but instead he throws him under the bus. Giambi was suppose to save the Bronx Bombers his first year there but instead was a huge bust. He had to completely revamp his swing after he got off the juice and there were times when the brass of the Yanks were contemplating sending Giambi to the minors or just releasing him altogether. Joe Torre is the manager who quietly sits on the bench and is widely considered a players coach because he doesn't ride his players too hard and is very loyal. Torre was so loyal to A-Rod last season that at times he would hit him in the 8-hole. Are you kidding me the reining MVP who still hit .290 with 35 bombs and 121 RBI's was hitting in the freaking 8-hole.

This season though now that A-Rod is doing things that we have never seen before the fans view him as a god and are so thankful that they get to see him wearing that number 13 jersey and playing third base. The media is finally pointing out the true reasons why the Yankees are below .500 and are saying, "Imagine where they would be if it wasn't for A-Rod?" His teammates have only good things to say about him and they're all waiting with smiles when he touches home plate after each of his 14 homeruns. His beloved manager was recently asked about A-Rod and he responded with, "The sky is the limit... the sky is the limit for Alex... it is scary." Where was all this love at last year when he still posted numbers that for most players are career years?

I can proudly say that I never once faltered or jumped off the A-Rod train last year as I traded FOR him in every one of my fantasy baseball leagues last year. So when everyone was jumping off the train, I was moving my way up to first class. So now that A-Rod is walking on water this month I stick my head out of the window and laugh at everyone scrambling to jump back aboard the train. I say CONGRATULATIONS A-ROD YOU DESERVE THIS.

oh yeah and ALL ABOARD!!!!!!!!

Clay Jackson