Deadliney Dealin'

[Frayed Knot]

Speaking of Tulowitski, although he's currently on the DL, he sat in the stands in YSIII on Sunday afternoon while his Rockies were back in Denver hosting the Pirates. An odd move to say the least (both his being in NYC and him choosing to spend the day watching a baseball game) and of course, when you combine that along with his #2 wearing tribute ass, it now has Yanqui fans wondering if it all means a trade is imminent. Speculation as to which marginal minor league relievers they can foist off on Colorado in exchange is now commencing while they recoil at the mere mention of the word Bettances.

[Guest sharpie]

Darwin Barney to the Dodgers for PTBNL.

[Frayed Knot]

sharpie wrote: Darwin Barney to the Dodgers for PTBNL.

It was a natural selection.

[metirish]

Frayed Knot wrote: sharpie wrote: Darwin Barney to the Dodgers for PTBNL. It was a natural selection.

well played Sir.


Tulo is signed for like what ten more years?, fuck that

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm suddenly having strong reservations about Tulo.

Is it because his eye black absorbs all light and it looks like there are holes in matter on his cheeks?

[Frayed Knot]

metirish wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: sharpie wrote: Darwin Barney to the Dodgers for PTBNL. It was a natural selection. well played Sir.

Actually I'm not even sure it was a natural selection (I just couldn't resist the joke). But with Barney not hitting a lick before being DFA'd by the Cubs and with Dee Gordon already at 2B in LA, I'm not really sure what the Dodgers want with Barney except maybe to keep his superior defense away from the rival Giants. SF recently picked up Dan Uggla and he's already made 3 errors in 3 games there bringing him to 12 on the year in just 36 game starts (an annual pace of 54 for an everyday starter). He's also 0-for-8 w/4 Ks since being picked up.
I'd make fun of him some more but we have to play the Giants soon and I'm always convinced that Uggla will hit 4 or 5 HRs in the series.

[TransMonk]

Justin Masterson heading to Cards

The Cleveland Indians have agreed to trade veteran right-hander Justin Masterson to the St. Louis Cardinals, team sources confirmed to ESPN Baseball Insider Jim Bowden.

In return, Cleveland will acquire minor league outfielder James Ramsey from the Cards.

Masterson, a free agent after this season, is 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA this season for Cleveland.

Ramsey, 24, was the 23rd overall pick in the 2012 draft out of Florida State. He's a .266 hitter with a .368 on base percentage in 235 minor-league games. Baseball America ranked him as St. Louis' No. 8 prospect going into this season.

[Frayed Knot]

Looks like Ramsey is in the midst of a good year so he's likely moved up a bit in prospect-land since those pre-season ranks. On the other hand he's a 24 y/o in AA so probably not a phenom.
Bottom line here is that I'm for any deal where a decent-to-good pitcher does NOT wind up on the Yanquis.

[seawolf17]

Jon Lester to A's, Yoenis Cespedes (!!!) to Red Sox.

[Frayed Knot]

seawolf17 wrote: Jon Lester to A's, Yoenis Cespedes (!!!) to Red Sox.

HOLY SHIT!!!

I had heard that Beane was still after pitching despite the two starters acquired last month.
Lester just a two month rental. Cespedes can be FA after 2015 despite it being only his 4th ML season.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Probably against the rules, but it would be nice if there was a conversation like this: "Okay Jon, go win World Series with the A's and then resign with us in it the offseason. Deal?"

[HahnSolo]

BLOCKBUSTER!

[Frayed Knot]

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Probably against the rules, but it would be nice if there was a conversation like this: "Okay Jon, go win World Series with the A's and then resign with us in it the offseason. Deal?"

Lester has already said that he'd be willing to talk to the Sawx in the winter even if they dealt him away so a return to Beantown is certainly possible.
Which isn't to say that there's a formal or even informal deal because they could have all the wink-wink conversations they want but neither side would ever be able to enforce such a thing.

[seawolf17]

Frayed Knot wrote: Probably against the rules, but it would be nice if there was a conversation like this: "Okay Jon, go win World Series with the A's and then resign with us in it the offseason. Deal?" Lester has already said that he'd be willing to talk to the Sawx in the winter even if they dealt him away so a return to Beantown is certainly possible. Which isn't to say that there's a formal or even informal deal because they could have all the wink-wink conversations they want but neither side would ever be able to enforce such a thing.

If you're happy where you are -- family, whatnot -- and your team sucks, then I don't see why you wouldn't do that. Go to your GM, say "hey, go get some useful pieces for me, and I'll be back in November."

[Edgy MD]

Why not? Mike F. Bordick did it. And it was certainly reported down here in the mid-'Lantic, from the time he got dealt, that he went with the hope of resigning with Baltimore in the offseason. Open secret-like.

After seeing the heart of Cespedes defensive game being misplaying caroms and redeeming himself with torrid throws, one is excited to see what kind of show he can bring to Fenway.

[Vic Sage]

Sure Lester would be willing to go back, if the BoSox will pay him what the FA market values him at this off-season. But Lester has already had substantial discussions with BoSox about an extension, so if the Sox and Lester agreed on his value, they would've extended him instead of trading him. And his price will not go down when he hits the open market.

[Edgy MD]

Vic Sage wrote: But Lester has already had substantial discussions with BoSox about an extension, so if the Sox and Lester agreed on his value, they would've extended him instead of trading him.

Unless they're feeling risky and want to have their cake and eat it too.

[Frayed Knot]

btw, the Lester/Cespedes deal also includes Jonny Gomes and cash going to Oakland, with one of those 'competitive balance' draft picks heading Boston's way.


It also triggered a side deal where the A's send pitcher Tommy Milone--who was sent to the minors despite pitching really well at the time of the Samardzija trade and had since demanded a trade because of all that--to Minnesota in exchange for OF Sam Fuld. Fuld hasn't been playing too much this year but he's one of those guys that makes the nightly high-light reel on defense whenever he does play.

[Ceetar]

The interesting thing about Fuld is he was claimed by the Twins off waivers earlier this year.....from the As

[Edgy MD]

Competitive balance picks can be traded. And traded to Boston, of all teams.

How absurd is it that these things even exist?

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: Competitive balance picks can be traded. And traded to Boston, of all teams. How absurd is it that these things even exist?

I still don't understand exactly how they do work.
The one thing I do know is that 'The Competitive Balance Picks' are opening later this summer in a festival headlined by 'Florida-Georgia Line' and 'Government Mule'

[seawolf17]

Vic Sage wrote: Sure Lester would be willing to go back, if the BoSox will pay him what the FA market values him at this off-season. But Lester has already had substantial discussions with BoSox about an extension, so if the Sox and Lester agreed on his value, they would've extended him instead of trading him. And his price will not go down when he hits the open market.

But IF there was a wink-wink agreement ("we'll pay you what you want, but let us go get Yoenis Cespedes to play left field for you too and you can spend a two-month vacation playing for a playoff spot") between Lester and the Sox... unenforceable, I know, but certainly not impossible.

[Gwreck]

The Red Sox apparently also traded John Lackey today; to the Cardinals.

[Gwreck]

Edgy MD wrote: Competitive balance picks can be traded. And traded to Boston, of all teams. How absurd is it that these things even exist?

Not really. It was part of the last CBA with the players' union, right?

[smg58]

Gwreck wrote: The Red Sox apparently also traded John Lackey today; to the Cardinals.

The main piece in return was Allen Craig. I kind of like the Red Sox grabbing major league players on down years. Craig might have been worth a look on our end, but Colon isn't pitching as well as Lackey (nor does he have a contact that pays him 500k in his last year -- I can see why that would be enticing for St. Louis).

[Edgy MD]

Not really. It was part of the last CBA with the players' union, right?

Well, yes, I understand that, as they were bargained for under the last agreement, taking that as the only relevant fact, it isn't absurd that they exist.

But in light of the federal law's broad condemnation of anti-competitive behavior, the notion that baseball is allowed to act as a cartel to the extent of establishing agreements that in their very name promise to "balance" competition is absurd, if merely a variation on old news.

[ashie62]

smg58 wrote: Gwreck wrote: The Red Sox apparently also traded John Lackey today; to the Cardinals. The main piece in return was Allen Craig. I kind of like the Red Sox grabbing major league players on down years. Craig might have been worth a look on our end, but Colon isn't pitching as well as Lackey (nor does he have a contact that pays him 500k in his last year -- I can see why that would be enticing for St. Louis).

The Red Sox get Joe Kelly also.... Part of me believes in time Kelly is better than Lackey anyway...

[Frayed Knot]

HRs in 2014
Cespedes = 17
Entire Boston OF = 14

[Frayed Knot]

seawolf17 wrote: Vic Sage wrote: Sure Lester would be willing to go back, if the BoSox will pay him what the FA market values him at this off-season. But Lester has already had substantial discussions with BoSox about an extension, so if the Sox and Lester agreed on his value, they would've extended him instead of trading him. And his price will not go down when he hits the open market. But IF there was a wink-wink agreement ("we'll pay you what you want, but let us go get Yoenis Cespedes to play left field for you too and you can spend a two-month vacation playing for a playoff spot") between Lester and the Sox... unenforceable, I know, but certainly not impossible.

Lester might get a $100 million deal this winter. To believe that such an agreement is in place he'd have to pass up that opportunity to sign that now in favor of playing 1/3 of a season elsewhere while hoping that injury, bad performance, or Boston mgmt changing their minds/being replaced won't cause the offer to change and/or go away.

That the two sides may have parted on good terms with promises to speak again after the season? ... Sure. That it's a done deal? ... Not a chance.

[Edgy MD]

I don't understand why there has to be anything "wink-wink" about it. If he's their property before the deal, they are free to talk about anything they want and agree in principle to anything they want.

And naturally, even if they arrive at a figure he'd be willing to jump at in the offseason --- after the Sox have gotten their healthy package and Lester has gotten his post-season $$ --- if his performance changes post-trade, neither party would be particularly bound by whatever the theoretical understanding was.