Posted by TMS:

some red flags surrounding Bedard here:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06222008/sports/mets/valentine_s_jays_116698.htm?page=2

The Mariners, now in full rebuild mode, are determining the market for Erik Bedard. But one NL official said, "They are not going to get anywhere near what they gave up." Seattle surrendered a five-player package last winter that includes current Orioles closer George Sherrill and seeming star-to-be center fielder Adam Jones. But one scout said the deal doesn't end there, raving about 6-foot-5 Double-A righty Chris Tillman. "He is 20. He is 7-2 [2.67 ERA]. He is a big, strong kid with a 94-95 mph fastball, a plus curveball that buckles righty hitters, a pretty good changeup, and he is a strike thrower. He has the whole works. Now I know why [Bill] Bavasi [recently fired as Seattle GM] lost his job."

And Bedard has made himself tough to move by accentuating the two questionable parts of his reputation: a standoffish personality, especially when it comes to media relations (which would make him a tougher sell in New York and Boston) and - more important - he is soft. He pulled himself after three shutout innings Friday with back spasms. One Mariners official said, "This guy begs out of more games than anyone I ever seen in my life."

you have to wonder just how serious this is considering the team that's looking to trade this guy is the source of where these comments are coming from... not sure if this guy is cutout for NY.

[Edited by - TMS on 06-22-2008 11:57 PM]

Posted by TMS:

i think it would take at least 2 B prospects... i'd rate Wright a C or D at this point.

what if COL wanted Melancon or Cox instead of Wright in that package? would u do it?

Posted by TMS:

he'll be an A rated FA so whatever we give up has to be better than the 2 compensatory picks they get if he signs w/another team in free agency... Cox was the higher pick when he got drafted & both have showed some nice promise in the minors... just curious why you chose Eminem over Cox? do u think he's gonna be the next Joba like they're hyping him up to be?

Posted by TMS:

Sanchez by far but he'd also come at a premium... talented young lefty relievers are a rare commodity & the Bucks will want a premium prospect in return for him.

Marte has been talked about so long i can't believe no deal has gotten done yet... i think the only reason he isn't already a Yankee is because his contract is not all that unbearable at $2 mil... still, i would think a team like Pittsburgh should be looking to dump guys like that to save on their payroll if they can get back a halfway decent prospect in return, & those are the types of guys the Yankees have been able to pick up on the cheap in past dealings.

i think right now our most realistic option to attain a lefty setup guy is Fuentes, cuz he's making a closer's salary right now & his team is falling out of the race... i'm thinking maybe we can throw them a pair of our 2nd tier prospects like Cox & Gonzo along w/a major league ready arm like Jose Veras & cash... not sure if the Rockies are ready to give up on the season just yet tho, especially after that crazy run they made last season to close out the season.

we may just have to go w/what we have in the farm system, unless TOR decides they wanna unload 1 of their 4 lefties in their bullpen... deals w/teams in the division are tough to swing but they're falling outta this thing so if we offer up some decent prospects i'm thinking a deal might be possible... i would love to add any 1 of those 4 guys to our pen.

Posted by TMS:

he's putting up those #'s at Tampa class A, i don't we can translate those to the majors just yet... class A to the majors is a huge jump... i dunno anything about that guy to be honest so i can't really give u a qualified opinion other than to say we'd probably have to try him out at AAA to see how he does before he becomes a viable option.

our farm system is pretty barren when it comes to lefty relievers... Billy Traber's the most major league ready guy, that tells u all u need to know... i think we'll have to go w/our righty guys like Edwar Ramirez who have good #'s against lefty batters for now until we can find a willing trade partner who doesn't want a ridiculous package of prospects in return... unfortunately as u saw last year w/the Matsui/Sanchez trade rumors, quality lefty arms don't come cheap these days.

of course we can always try Kei Igawa as our lefty setup man.

Posted by TMS:

assuming Dan Geise is only a stopgap solution, who do u guys think are realistic trade options for the Yankees to pursue right now?

CC's name has been tossed around but i don't see the Yankees paying the fare in terms of prospect to land him when they could simply wait til free agency to lock him up w/o giving up any prospects.

a few other names being tossed around include Erik Bedard, Randy Wolf, Kevin Millwood, Gil Meche, AJ Burnett... then there are lower tier guys like Miguel Batista, Carlos Silva... i've even heard Freddy Garcia's name mentioned in some rumors.

how about Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera & Alan Horne for Zack Greinke? the kid is a young up & coming stud at 24 so this is the type of acquisition i would have no problem giving up a package of prospects for... we just drafted & signed his little brother & the Yanks were rumored to be in talks to acquire Zack over the offseason.

a lesser deal i wouldn't mind seeing is for someone like Jarrod Washburn... he's a lefty & has pitched some big games over his career... would seem like we could get someone like that at a relative bargain.

Yankees eye Washburn, minor-leaguer Aceves

BY KEN DAVIDOFF | ken.davidoff@newsday.com
July 23, 2008

As they look for ways to upgrade their starting rotation, the Yankees are considering both internal and external options. Brian Cashman watched Alfredo Aceves pitch for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barres last night, and the team has expressed an interest in Seattle lefthander Jarrod Washburn.

Aceves, limited to 65 pitches (as reported by the Times-Tribune in Scranton), pitched three innings against Richmond, allowing two runs, three hits and two walks and striking out six. A 25-year-old righthander, Aceves has surged through the Yankees' minor-league system this year, putting up a 1.92 ERA in 108 innings, striking out 87 and walking just 16.

He began the season at Class A Tampa and has now pitched four games for Scranton, the first two as a reliever. His low pitch count reflected that he is being stretched back out into a starter's role.

Meanwhile, the Yankees didn't make serious bids for elite starting pitchers such as CC Sabathia (who went from Cleveland to Milwaukee) and Rich Harden (who went from Oakland to the Cubs), but they do have some interest in Washburn, a lefthander who will turn 34 next month. ESPN first reported the Yankees' pursuit of Washburn.

In his third year with the Mariners, Washburn has a 4-9 record and 4.75 ERA, with 32 walks and 65 strikeouts in 110 innings. Washburn is signed through 2009, with a $10.35-million salary, so Seattle is not in a position to ask the Yankees for a strong package of talent.