Well, now that I see how seriously Rasmus is being dumped upon, I feel kind of bad for him.  Just look at the photo in this article.  Water-cooler talk is Jay or Rasmus in CF, and the talk of Rasmus getting traded is much different than less season when it was more or less a non-starter.  Also ironic to note that Jeff Gordon could be cribbing from Fors.


http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/round-two/article_be1bb946-abde-11e0-a6c7-001a4bcf6878.html

Last edited by Max (7/12/2011 1:04 pm)

Mozeliak said today on KFNS that Rasmus isn't going to be traded this season. We'll see.

"James Shields does. Jeremy Hellickson gives them a scary-deep rotation at least next year. But I don't think Tampa parts with either one for Rasmus."

I had the same thoughts.  I'm not sure they'd target Shields because of cost.  Hellickson would be very intriguing.

Obviously, a deal with the Rays depends upon how happy they are with their situation with Upton. Shields is at the top of the Bell curve right now, and Hellickson is cheap and has a ton of upside. I agree I'm not sure Wade Davis gets it done for the Cardinals.
If history is a guide, I think we're probably looking at a young non-regular (Jay? Craig, when he's well?) for a veteran with a mid-to-high range salary who is underachieving and could be one of Duncan's reclaimation projects.
Ryan Dempster, anyone?

Max wrote:

FWIW: Yahoo is featuring a fan opinion that "now is time to trade Upton".

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ycn-8791127

Also, Shields is only earning $4.25 m, so he's not expensive this year, but I don't understand yet why we think the Rays would want to part with him.  Is there an impending free agency issue?  But the Rays are only 6 games back.

It's an unusual contract with team buyouts the next three years. I'm guessing you're correct. It would really take a big offer to pry Shields loose.

"Price wouldn't be an issue this season, but I think his option for next season at like $8-9M.

I had to read this about three times before I figured out you weren't referring to David.
It's been a long week so far ...

forsberg_us wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

"Price wouldn't be an issue this season, but I think his option for next season at like $8-9M.

I had to read this about three times before I figured out you weren't referring to David.
It's been a long week so far ...

LOL.  Sorry.  How about, "The cost for Shields..."

If people on this board are going to have to start making allowances for my brain cramps, the only posts left are going to be AP's links to photos of morbidly obese women in lingerie.

artie_fufkin wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

"Price wouldn't be an issue this season, but I think his option for next season at like $8-9M.

I had to read this about three times before I figured out you weren't referring to David.
It's been a long week so far ...

LOL.  Sorry.  How about, "The cost for Shields..."

If people on this board are going to have to start making allowances for my brain cramps, the only posts left are going to be AP's links to photos of morbidly obese women in lingerie.

The nice thing about this board is I can post the picture directly on it.

"If they deal Rasmus I would like to see them do it in a manner that sets them up for years to come.  Kind of like the Drew trade."

You'd probably have to throw in a starting pitcher to reap that kind of return. I think the Cubs would probably give away Dempster to whomever agreed to pay him the rest of the way.
The good thing about Dempster is he's got experience in the bullpen. Without looking too far ahead, the playoff rotation is probably going to be Carpenter, Garcia and whichever pitcher performs the best over the last two months. If it's not McClellan, then you can move him back to his setup role in front of the closer, whoever it may be.
I still like the idea of Heath Bell a little bit better. You hate to give up a lot for a closer, but it's hard to win a championship without a good one.

artie_fufkin wrote:

"If they deal Rasmus I would like to see them do it in a manner that sets them up for years to come.  Kind of like the Drew trade."

You'd probably have to throw in a starting pitcher to reap that kind of return. I think the Cubs would probably give away Dempster to whomever agreed to pay him the rest of the way.
The good thing about Dempster is he's got experience in the bullpen. Without looking too far ahead, the playoff rotation is probably going to be Carpenter, Garcia and whichever pitcher performs the best over the last two months. If it's not McClellan, then you can move him back to his setup role in front of the closer, whoever it may be.
I still like the idea of Heath Bell a little bit better. You hate to give up a lot for a closer, but it's hard to win a championship without a good one.

Why would the Cubs trade Dempster within the NLC if other options presented themselves?

"Why would the Cubs trade Dempster within the NLC if other options presented themselves?"

They probably wouldn't, and I haven't heard any rumors to that effect, but I'm guessing they'd love to dump his salary, and wouldn't be overly particular to whom at a certain point.
I believe this is what's known as random speculation, which would be a first in the history of baseball.

From NorthJersey.com:

July 11 - As the Mets finish the first half of the season, Johan Santana may have finished the second stage of his rehabilitation. The last part, the equivalent of spring training, is expected to begin today.

"There’s no real precision here as we’ve learned in a number of instances already this season with respect to injuries," Mets GM Sandy Alderson said. "But I think we’re very encouraged that he’s been throwing bullpens and has felt great immediately after, and days after, so I think we’re going to re-evaluate where he is over the next several days to try and get something more definitive, but very encouraging with Johan."

The next step for Santana is to advance to a three-days-a-week throwing program, live batting practice and finally minor league rehab games. But Alderson cautioned not to expect too much from the left-hander this season.

"Some people have been thinking of spring training as March 1 to March 31, actually pitching in games," Alderson said. "Others have thought of it in terms of the six weeks, pitchers and catchers, etc., so we’ll try to get a little more precise over the next week or so. So I said a few days ago, we’re not looking for Johan to ride in here and be a major factor in this season."