Some SNL

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 1, 2008 10:01 PM CST in News

That's Saturday Night Linkaliciousness...

Jason Marquis says he wants to be traded if he doesn't make the Cubs rotation. The problem is, he's owed $18 million the next two years, and he's not very good.

Now, he had a decent ERA and ERA+ last year, and he's just 29...but his peripherals have never been any good, and his 2006 season was a disaster. PECOTA projects him as a 5+ ERA guy the next few years, which sounds about right to me.

The Cubs would probably be best served shuffling him off to a team that feels it needs a vet arm for the rotation to compete right now, shed the salary, and get something useful in return. That would certainly seem to be a better option that sticking him in the pen...

More on the Braves not being optimistic about re-signing Mark Teixeira, in a piece that includes a quote from Teixeira about the contract extension the Rangers offered:

"There was an offer made," he said, "but it wasn't what was right for me at that time of my career, and I was ready to move on."

The Braves' own FOTF, Chipper Jones, has this to say about Teixeira coming back:

"I'm not going to say there's no chance [they re-sign him], but he stands behind his guy [Boras], and his guy gets top dollar. And I doubt we'll be able to offer top dollar."

So there you go.

There is a good piece up on THT about the "no risk" free agency that a handful of players received in 1988 as a result of an arbitrator's ruling regarding collusion that had gone on a few years before. Some good history on the whole collusion thing that occurred in the late-80s (and I know some of the readers here aren't old enough to remember when it happened). One of the most interesting things, though, to me:

Lee MacPhail, the then Director of the Player Relations Committee, urged the owners not to be swayed by pressure from fans and the media to spend money on player contracts. He asked that teams "exercise more self-discipline," and "resist the temptation to give in to unreasonable demands of experienced marginal players." MacPhail continued, "We must stop daydreaming that one free agent signing will bring a pennant."

McPhail was right, of course...and yet, this was part of the collusion that was going on, and owners would only stick to this because they thought all the other owners would agree. Not overpaying experienced marginal players, and realizing one free agent won't bring a pennant, is simply wise management...and yet, only through collusion will teams follow that advice...

Don't know how much basis there is in this, but reportedly, the Dodgers, who are trying to decide between washed-up vet Nomar Garciaparra and prospect Andy LaRoche for their third base job, are apparently considering solving the dilemma by trading for Brandon Inge. Inge is owed about $20 million over the next three years, and is a terrific fielder but a bad hitter. However, Joe Torre and Larry Bowa apparently want Inge, so we'll see how much stroke the new manager in L.A. actually has there.

If the Dodgers do trade for Inge, if I'm Jon Daniels, I'm on the phone with them ASAP, seeing if LaRoche could be had.

The Scott Spiezio story is bizarre. The Cards, of course, have released Spiezio after his arrest...because as we all know that the Cards want nothing to do with someone who gets a DUI.

Tweet Comment 26 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Laroche

how would Laroche fit on our club? COF?

by meatbonelefty on Mar 1, 2008 10:04 PM CST reply actions

As our future 3rd baseman

Blalock isn't going to last forever, and his contract is almost over... and LaRoche is one of the top 3rd base prospects in baseball.

I'm not sure what the Dodgers would want... but for a hypothetical... I'd swap them Travis Metcalf and an arm or a catcher for LaRoche, without a thought. Maybe it would take a bullpen guy to be thrown in - in that case, make it... let's say Metcalf, Doug Mathis and Scott Feldman for LaRoche.

That might not be enough, though - suggestions?

"The only thing Gerald Laird can beat me at is number of glazed donuts eaten in 10 minutes" - Miles

by LSJ on Mar 1, 2008 10:19 PM CST up reply actions

Come on

Metcalf, Mathis and Feldman?

Two guys with no trade value, and one guy for very little trade value?

It would take a lot more than that. Probably Wilson or Benoit.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 1, 2008 10:23 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, I didn't think so

But Wilson is all but untouchable (unless this is a trade for Jonathan Broxton) and Benoit's arm might be on the verge of falling off... no velocity, remember? Not to sure he's tradeable right now. If he was healthy though, I'd consider it.

Tell you what: let's pretened you're the Dodgers, and I'm JD. I'll up the ante:

Frankie Francisco, Johnny Whittleman, and Manuel Pina.

Am I close yet?

"The only thing Gerald Laird can beat me at is number of glazed donuts eaten in 10 minutes" - Miles

by LSJ on Mar 1, 2008 10:29 PM CST up reply actions

Haha!

To anyone that said you were JD, I think this is confirmation that you're not him. Add Font and I think you'll get LA to bite ;)

"Ager is going to be something special" - hinduplaya

by AirJordan on Mar 1, 2008 10:52 PM CST up reply actions

No

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 1, 2008 11:16 PM CST up reply actions

I would have a better idea

if I knew what LA wanted, or exactly how highly they regard Andy LaRoche. I was under the impression they would have traded him for Hank Blalock sraight up this offseason - so sorry if I have him undervalued. I also thought they might want a third base prospect in return, but I guess Metcalf and Whittleman aren't worth much, despite all the rave reviews I keep hearing about them.

Last call: German Duran and Beau Jones. With maybe Tejeda or Feldman as a throw in if nescessary.

"The only thing Gerald Laird can beat me at is number of glazed donuts eaten in 10 minutes" - Miles

by LSJ on Mar 1, 2008 11:30 PM CST up reply actions

No

L.A. is in win-now mode. If they trade him, they are going to want someone who can contribute right away, most likely.

Jones has very little trade value...he's as much of a throw-in as Tejeda (and probably has less value than Feldman).

So you are basically saying, Duran for LaRoche. They aren't going to do that.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 1, 2008 11:38 PM CST up reply actions

Beau Jones has less value than Feldman?

Wow. Didn't know that.

Since I'm obviously already in over my head, time for a stupid question: How do you determine "trade value" anyway? I don't see how it's possible that Beau Jones has less trade value than Scott Feldman - Feldman sucks. Jones may be in A-ball, but I've heard good things about him, at least.

The Dodgers obviously aren't that high on LaRoche if they're thinking about Brandon Inge - I was, at least thinking he could be had for a cheap trade package. What do you think they'd ask for then? Blalock again?

"The only thing Gerald Laird can beat me at is number of glazed donuts eaten in 10 minutes" - Miles

by LSJ on Mar 1, 2008 11:54 PM CST up reply actions

Feldman and Jones

Feldman just turned 25 years old, has a 4.43 career major league ERA and a career major league ERA+ of 103, and a career minor league ERA of 2.57.

He was awful last year, but the chances of Beau Jones having as successful a career in the majors as Feldman has had thusfar aren't high.

Feldman was awful last year, but there seems to be too much of a knee-jerk reaction with him (and, similarly, with Laird and McCarthy), that he sucked last year so he's worthless.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 2, 2008 12:09 AM CST up reply actions

Yes, but wouldn't that down year

Also bring down his trade value? Kind of like with Vicente Padilla?

I guess don't know as much as I thought I did about "trade value". Of course, trade value varies according to organizational needs (or what organizations think they need), and I admit, I'm not quite sure what the Dodgers would be looking for, other than some young pitching. Heck, I'm not sure the Dodgers even know what they would want for Andy LaRoche.

Oh well. This isn't going to happen anyway, but it's been a nice saturday night distraction. Thanks for the lessons in trade value, Adam.

"The only thing Gerald Laird can beat me at is number of glazed donuts eaten in 10 minutes" - Miles

by LSJ on Mar 2, 2008 12:29 AM CST up reply actions

Dodgers

I think you're getting somewhere with German Duran. The dodgers need players that are closer to being ready and toolsy, they're past draft philosophies have been prep kids with high ceilings mainly pitchers and outfielders, but sometimes they get stagnant by waiting in the wings. They were considered absolutely loaded in 05 & 06, still kinda are so you may get them to undervalue some of their people because of the depth, like Loney last year, hopefully we don't do that with our catchers.

by thesplendidsplinter on Mar 1, 2008 11:51 PM CST up reply actions

I can't claim...

much depth of knowledge here, but what about the idea of trading Blalock for LaRoche + prospects? I understand that it would be trading Blalock at a low point in his value, but isn't that partially cancelled out by the Dodgers trading out of perceived need?

Just curious...

by GhettoBear04 on Mar 2, 2008 8:33 AM CST up reply actions

From the understanding I'm getting from Adam

I don't think the Dodgers would trade us LaRoche for Blalock straight up, let alone throw in any more prospects. But then again, I'm the guy who just got done posting a string of idiotic trade proposals above - I could be wrong.

"The only thing Gerald Laird can beat me at is number of glazed donuts eaten in 10 minutes" - Miles

by LSJ on Mar 2, 2008 9:50 PM CST up reply actions

Really?

Are the Dodgers seriously in "win now" mode?

by thesplendidsplinter on Mar 1, 2008 11:05 PM CST up reply actions

That would be the

dumbest move ever. They get Inge and deem Laroche expendable? If they're smart, Inge is there to buy time for Andy. Then have Nomar split between 1st and 3rd.

LSB hates them some Mench.

by sprite on Mar 1, 2008 10:13 PM CST reply actions

Dodgers leadership

reminds me some of the Rangers, circa 2002-2004. You have a successful and high profile scouting director and a GM with completely different approaches to the game and a manager with a lot of leverage with the GM and ownership.

I guess the main difference is that White is responsible for all of this young talent that the GM and coaches don't respect, while Texas had all three different guys with contempt for the collected talent (ARod, Hafner, Pena, etc).

At any rate, it just doesn't seem like a healthy situation.

by Brett Perryman on Mar 1, 2008 10:21 PM CST reply actions

Logan White

It is interesting, because I know he's very well regarded, and I had heard talk that either he or Colletti would be gone after 2007 -- that it was a civil war going on in the front office.

Yet, they are still there. The Dodgers organization is a circus right now.

I saw some item out there in the last week or so that says Jeff Kent has gotten Jamie McCourt's ear, and has a ton of pull with ownership now.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 1, 2008 10:26 PM CST up reply actions

Dodgers

proof that there is no collusion right now, corrosion is more like it.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 1, 2008 10:34 PM CST up reply actions

t ball

I think you're hitting on something by bringing that up. How deep the division has gown between the two philosophies, with the blow up they had at the end of last year. Hence, Joe Torre, to fix it on the field. I think that will be an interesting thing to watch this year.

by thesplendidsplinter on Mar 1, 2008 10:55 PM CST up reply actions

GM's

I wonder if other GM's look for situation's like this to find players/prospects that are undervalued because of a philosophy. Oh, wait that's how Oakland and Florida take advantage of teams constantly.

by thesplendidsplinter on Mar 1, 2008 11:00 PM CST reply actions

Florida?

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 1, 2008 11:21 PM CST up reply actions

Florida

From the fire sales, but I will give to them, they've made some great trades. Maybin and Miller(still think tigers need more pitching and many bats are overrated and old), Matt Clement to get Willis(the Cubs had no business in that, finished 5th), Cliff Floyd for Pavano, (Expos, just Expos) Juan Pierre for Charles Johnson & Preston Wilson. Hanley Ramirez for Beckett, although I don't think that counts because Beckett is worth it.

you don't think so?

by thesplendidsplinter on Mar 1, 2008 11:38 PM CST up reply actions