Make a deal

[metirish]

Val , please tell me all about Owings and why you are so enamored with him.

[Valadius]

Micah Owings is unlike probably any pitcher in baseball in that he hits so well that you'd consider batting him in the heart of the order. He's 24 years old, and he's only going to get better. He went 8-8 with a 4.30 ERA, 106 K against 50 BB in 152 2/3 innings. It wouldn't be a stretch to think that he might achieve a 3.80 ERA or something next season, possibly win 13 or 14 games. He also threw 2 complete games, including a shutout. We could use more of those.

Then we come to his hitting. As a freaking rookie, he won the NL Silver Slugger for pitchers. He batted .333 with 4 homers in only 60 at-bats. He also had 7 doubles and a triple. He had 15 RBI. His OPS was 1.033! It's hard to believe that he's a pitcher! He has the offensive credentials to pinch-hit on his off-days and DH when we play interleague. Because he fills all these roles, it allows us to essentially carry an extra player. And again - he's only 24, and he'll only get better!

[seawolf17]

Which is exactly why the D'Backs have very little reason to give him up. I can't get excited over a pitchers' hitting stats; you're talking about such a small sample size. I know Owings has certainly shown you something in his limited time, but to quote the Mad Dog, "let's not get crazy here, huh?"

[Centerfield]

Sign me up for package #2 right now:

http://www.twinkietown.com/story/2007/11/15/05511/474

[Valadius]

Seriously, are they absolutely insane? The best third baseman in the NL and possible MVP AND the best prospect in the system? Wright > Santana. Sorry, Twins fans. And there's no way we'd ever trade Pedro, even if it made sense.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I'm with CF. If the Mets were pretty confident in signing Santana to a longterm extension, I would readily give them Milledge, Gomez, and their choice of either Pelfrey or Humber.

[TransMonk]

I'm getting ready to tackle the Brewer's board over the weekend. I'm planning on inquiring about Sheets. Any of their other batters or pitchers intrigue anyone?

[DocTee]

Richie Weeks.

[smg58]

Centerfield wrote: Sign me up for package #2 right now: http://www.twinkietown.com/story/2007/11/15/05511/474

I'd haggle to Deolis Guerra in place of Milledge. They're already taking two of our young outfielders. But I'm impressed that we're in the same ballpark to start with (no pun intended).

[Valadius]

Yovani Gallardo.

[TransMonk]

DocTee wrote: Richie Weeks.

Really?

="Valadius"]Yovani Gallardo.

I'd bet he's quite untouchable.

The way I see the problem is a lot of what we have to offer is very similar to what Milwaukee already has. I figured I could pry away Sheets because he is in his walk year and may look for more money than the Brewers are willing to pay in '09.

[DocTee]

Weeks was farmed out last year if I remember, and may just need a change of scenery. Maybe he just needs to be around a winner like WWSB. If Castillo cannot be resigned, he'd be as good a target as any other, I would imagine, and is preferable to Josh Barfield, IMHO.

[Valadius]

We really need to figure out what we're doing at second base, as Castillo's already been offered a deal by Houston, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.

[seawolf17]

Valadius! Stop trying to get "future ace" minor league pitchers from other teams. It's not happening.

[Valadius]

LOL.

It has been speculated that we may be in the running for Erik Bedard, should the Orioles fail to sign him to an extension. Looks like they could use an outfielder - maybe offer Milledge and Humber as a starting point?

[smg58]

Sheets I think is a good bet to be on the market; given his injury record and all the young talent the Brewers have, they have valid reasons to save their money for other guys on the team.

The Orioles have money, and Bedard is two years away from free agency. I would think the O's would give themselves at least a year to tie him down, and I just can't see a pitcher turning down a fair contract offer more than a year before he could talk with anybody else. I'd be surprised and a little bit puzzled if they offer him up, but duh I'd be interested if they do.

Likewise I think the Padres would give themselves at least a year to sign Peavy before putting him on the market, and they have the added disincentive of being legit contenders.

[TransMonk]

Contact with the Brewers has been made.

http://brewersfandemonium.yuku.com/topic/9357

[Frayed Knot]

]The way I see the problem is a lot of what we have to offer is very similar to what Milwaukee already has. I figured I could pry away Sheets because he is in his walk year and may look for more money than the Brewers are willing to pay in '09.

Milwaukee could use a real CFer IMO. They used Bill Hall out there last year after Hardy moved him off of SS. He's one of those good all-around athletes they hoped could man the position while keeping his bat in the lineup, but that's a tough position to fake and I think most Brew-fans would admit he was lacking out there at times.
What that implies is that maybe they could be tempted with either Gomez or Milledge (not that either of them are proven gloves either - but they're at least promising) for either pitching, or maybe Weeks, or even Hall himself. Hall played SS for a while so shirley he could give 2B a go.

Gallardo is, of course, not someone they're even going to discuss.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I love Weeks, but he was kicking all kinds off ass at the end of the year when he came back from the minors. He's too young and too talented for them to let go of, I'd bet.

What about Bill Hall?

Reasons why we might:
-He's played some second base (though not particularly well) and can play the OF/SS/3B in a pinch.
-He's in the second year of 4-year/$24M deal, with the expensive years coming up (08:$4.8M, 09:$6.8M, 10:$8.4M, 11:$9.25M club option/$0.5M buyout).
-He'll be 28 this year.

Reasons why they might:
-Sub-par year in '07 offensively, might not be worth the money remaining.
-Struggled defensively in CF and they're good at 3B, 2B, and SS, with Braun, Weeks, and Hardy.

[Valadius]

Contact made with an Orioles forum:

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=251&f=2023#s=251&f=2023&t=1417745&p=3

I'm trying to see if we can get Erik Bedard.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I took Vic's Shoppach/Barfield deal to an Indians site and peddled it. There was already some Cliff Lee and Kelly Shoppach to the Mets talk there, so I foresee some hot and fast action.

[MFS62]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: I took Vic's Shoppach/Barfield deal to an Indians site and peddled it. There was already some Cliff Lee and Kelly Shoppach to the Mets talk there, so I foresee some hot and fast action.

Ahem.

Later

[A Boy Named Seo]

Two things. First, you got just one response and it was luke-warm at best. This trade needs life breathed into it NOW!!!

And second, I forgot you already did it.

[smg58]

I know Ryan Garko hasn't caught for two years, but why don't you ask about him while you're at it? I was really impressed with the at-bats of his I saw in the ALCS.

[smg58]

I found a Mariners forum to ask about Ken Johjima or prospect Jeff Clement. The link is http://www.lookoutlanding.com/story/2007/11/18/20373/560.

[smg58]

The Mariners' biggest need appears to be major league starting pitching. Johjima for Maine or Perez might be reasonable if we had pitching to spare.

[TransMonk]

Well, in Milwaukee I offered:

Milledge/Humber for Sheets
Pelfrey/Gomez for Sheets
Humber/Gomez for Sheets

The early response is Sheets/Turnbow for Milledge/Heilman.

Any thoughts?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Has opionion soured on Turnbow? He seems pretty comparable to Heilman --- in terms of service as well as ability. He puts up low BAAs, but could stand to walk fewer guys.

He looks like he's stoned 100% of the time.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I just like to look at the ball and just say, "Hey Bud, let's party!"

[Valadius]

He was the first major leaguer ever to test positive for steroids. He's also had major control issues for the last season and a half or so.