Trade Deadline Update

by clark on Jul 7, 2008 10:28 AM CDT

The biggest name on the market has been dealt, tentatively setting the market going forward. But the number of teams still “in the mix” is high enough that the buyer and seller columns are hardly set in stone, and the Rangers, now at three games above .500 despite their lack of quality pitching and a recent string of injuries, are squarely in the middle of that gray area. It is July 7th, and frankly, I have no idea what this team will do.

I am fairly certain they will try to find a trade partner for Frank Catalanotto, but I doubt they are looking to give him away. We have heard they are willing to deal Padilla, but their pitching depth is thin right now, and with Padilla’s two recent lackluster efforts and recent injury news, it is hard to imagine his trade value being greater than his value to the Rangers at this point. However, a couple of strong starts, along with positive news about guys like Hurley, Mathis, Murray, and McCarthy in the coming weeks, could change that.

Milton Bradley is another wild card. His numbers are still among the league leaders, but he has been missing more and more games of late, and his delicate handling by the Rangers of late is reminiscent of Gagne at this point last year. If a team believes in his health going forward, he should have some serious value. The market for an impact right handed bat is pretty thin, with Bay and Nady as the only real competition.

The catching situation has been skewed by injuries. I have a feeling a resolution will not come until the offseason, due to Salty’s weak performance to date and Laird’s injury.

Any other thoughts, rumors, or musings? I’d love to hear them.

1 recs | Comment 30 comments

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Record

I think our record could actually help us at trade deadline time. With guys like Milton and Guardado who have been key parts to the season so far if we are still in it the price to pry them away from us will go up. We could just as easily keep them and take the draft picks (although Guardado won’t garner any) and still compete this year.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jul 7, 2008 10:47 AM CDT 0 recs

Red Sox

This article in the Boston Herald lists the Red Sox wish list at, catcher of the future, bat to replace Ortiz if he’s not coming back soon, and a setup reliever – preferably left handed. That list seems like it matches up well with the Rangers.

How about a Teagarden/Bradley/Guardado for Bowden and Masteson? Ok so that probably won’t happen, but something along those lines is very doable.

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by DerekSTheRed on Jul 7, 2008 11:28 AM CDT 0 recs

Bowden Scouting Report

Saw clark posted about trading for Bowden below. Figured I’d contribute this to the thread.

Jim (Portland, OR): KLaw, what is your opinion on Bowden now that you’ve seen him?
SportsNation Keith Law: Disappointed. He was 88-91, below average command, flashed a plus curveball that has a chance to be an out pitch. Barely used his change, which Red Sox people have told me is his best pitch. Ugly delivery. Never saw the 94 mph I’d heard he was dealing this year, and the pro scout behind me told me he’d seen Bowden twice before (in 2008) and never had him above 88-92.

This is the Texas Rangers, professional destroyers of hope, we're talking about. - BAC

by nikpin on Jul 7, 2008 1:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

Salty

this article reiterates Boston’s interest in Salty. I suppose a mid-season prospect for prospect deal could get done, but it would qualify as a rarity. I still like the Salty for Bowden and Bard deal I threw out a few months ago.

by clark on Jul 7, 2008 11:28 AM CDT 0 recs

Blast!

beaten by less than a second.

by clark on Jul 7, 2008 11:29 AM CDT up 0 recs

Great mind think alike!

It does seem inevitable that the two teams will make a trade. Boston has extra pitching prospects and Texas has extra catching prospects.

Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!

by DerekSTheRed on Jul 7, 2008 11:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

Great mind

that typo gave me a chuckle.

Both of you have a good idea, though. It seems like a good match, though I think Boston will hold their young pitchers close. I don’t think Salty alone will get one of those arms right now.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 7, 2008 1:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

If they do trade Bradley...

I really hope that they can bring him back in the off-season. He really seems to fit with this team. Also, with the dept we have in the OF it helps in keeping him fresh.

by booyahcaveman on Jul 7, 2008 11:40 AM CDT 0 recs

I haven't heard much

about the team trading Bradley, which leads me to believe the team is not actively shopping him. I think this team will end up simply holding at the deadline, with Catalanotto being the only likely candidate to be moved.

by clark on Jul 7, 2008 11:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

I dont see Bradley wanting to come back if traded,

who often do players do that? I think we hold on to him unless we are blown away. We could benefit from one of the three options here:

Keep him and get draft picks
Trade him and get prospects
Propose a contract to him in the offseason when he becomes a free agent

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Jul 7, 2008 12:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

depends

He obviously feels very comfortable here. I think that if you approached him the right way he would come back. Like if you went to him and said “Milt, you have done a tremendous job for us this year. And we want you to have the best chance to get a ring. We are trading you to XXXXXX but this winter we want you back.” Something along those lines I think would keep his feelings for the rangers up and then this winter we could go after him all over again.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jul 7, 2008 12:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

or

we want this to be your home…....do you mind playing with another team for a couple of months to get us some pitching and then come back this offseason?

by slash on Jul 9, 2008 3:02 AM CDT up 0 recs

over at mlbtraderumors

two different people (red sox fans from what i could tell) mentioned Teagarden for Bowden and indicated that the Red Sox should jump at it.

If that deal was on the table, as a Rangers fan, do you take it? It sucks to trade away a local kid and probably the most natural catcher of our glut of catching prospects, but I just really like Bowden’s intangibles. I would do that trade, I think.

Bowden may just be a middle of the rotation guy, but he would join a group that includes Hurley, Harrison, McCarthy, Feldman, Gabbard, and Feldman out of which we should be able to find five starters capable of 4.50 ERAs or better.

by clark on Jul 7, 2008 12:53 PM CDT 0 recs

Teagarden

I think Evan Grant said that his shoulder is not going to hold up to catch a full season of games. Plus, he is represented by Boras and we do already have two catchers, who are both younger and already in the majors..

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

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by hinduplaya on Jul 7, 2008 1:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yes

I do it.

Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!

by DerekSTheRed on Jul 7, 2008 1:05 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well

Goldstein just shot me down in his chat when i threw that out there. I think it will take Salty to get Boston to give up one of their young pitchers, but i would want more than just Bowden for Salty.

by clark on Jul 7, 2008 1:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

did we ever get a winner in the "dueling McCarthy stories"?...

is he feeling fine?... or…

by oc on Jul 7, 2008 1:09 PM CDT 0 recs

i think the most recent update

is that he threw a 55 pitch bullpen session without issue, and he is going to pitch a simulated game in Surprise and then start a rehab assignment, barring any setbacks.

by clark on Jul 7, 2008 1:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

tomorrow I believe

I think tomorrow is the simulated game then off to most likely Frisco for a rehab stint. He’ll probably slide into Diamonds spot in the rotation for that.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jul 7, 2008 1:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

Red Sox

Why trade Saltalamacchia ot Teagarden now to Boston? Wouldn’t it be better to wait until the offseason?

"Publicly, Beavan has said in an interview that his velocity has dropped because he's not used to throwing as much and because of all the travel -- late night bus rides, sleeping in hotels, not the best nutrition, etc."

by RangerMad on Jul 7, 2008 1:52 PM CDT 0 recs

They could be desperate

Varitek has been awful this season and they might like someone to play a couple times a week to ease the load on Varitek and possibly provide better results.

This is the Texas Rangers, professional destroyers of hope, we're talking about. - BAC

by nikpin on Jul 7, 2008 1:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

Timing

If the offer is good enough, pull the trigger now or later.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 7, 2008 1:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

I wouldn't mind moving Salty or Teagarden to BOS

but I’m really not a Bowden guy. I’d rather up the offer (Guardado and another high-potential prospect not named Neftali) and ask for Buchholz.

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by willamos2 on Jul 7, 2008 2:30 PM CDT 0 recs

Millwood and Padilla...

My patience with these two is really growing thin. I’m starting to think that if they can get a couple decent prospects for each of them and get rid of their contracts it might be worth dumping them.

Byrd, Cat, and Eddie G should all be dealt. Perhaps the Electician as well.

Vazquez is interesting, if someone offers something of value for him I think you have to pull the trigger on that as well.

Salty or Laird should be moved also. Make the deal that gets you the best players back in terms of value. Salty is worth more, but if the deal doesn’t include a MLB ready pitching prospect you hold onto him and see what you can get for OMFT. Who should still bring back a good prospect.

Blalock? Who knows.

Board Game is where I’m really up in the air. I hate to think of this lineup without his bat in the middle of it producing like he has this year and breaking up the LH hitters. However it seems every week he has to come out of a game as a “precaution”. If offered a good package for him I think you have to take it. Don’t give him away cheap though.

Basically any veteran who is not signed next year or could bring back some prospects and salary relief should be shopped for the right deal.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jul 7, 2008 3:48 PM CDT 0 recs

Agree completely.

by BombDiggity on Jul 7, 2008 3:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

Millwood

has pushed my final buttons. I just get so frustrated watching him. Roberts stole 2nd and 3rd then scored when he had no business getting around the diamond with one damn batter at the plate. He also kept shaking Ramirez off, as though when he called the game he was pitching well.

I’d see what the Dodgers would offer for Young or Vasquez. Then trade Laird, Guardado, Byrd, Cat, Millwood, and quite possibly Wright, and Bradley. His injury situation is not making me want to hold on to him regardless of how well he mashes the ball.

by Hull Fan on Jul 7, 2008 4:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Millwood & Padilla

If we move them and don’t make any big ticket offseason acquisitions it would be interesting to see how low the payroll goes.

This is the Texas Rangers, professional destroyers of hope, we're talking about. - BAC

by nikpin on Jul 7, 2008 4:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

you know, we will actually need

players to finish the season. If we dump a good 7-8 guys, as you are basically suggesting, we have to replace them somehow, and if it means rushing players who aren’t ready up to the bigs, or several more starting outings like tonight, it would be a mistake to sell EVERYTHING.

by venturafearsnolan on Jul 7, 2008 10:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

So...

You don’t think we get anyone back for all those guys?

First off Byrd, Cat, Eddie G, Vazquez and the Electrician are all easily replaced by guys already here.

We already have 4 catchers (including TT) so that isn’t a problem.

Blalock hasn’t played most of the year, and we have this Davis kid now who I think will be pretty good.

Board Game could be replaced by JMJ or Cruz if the Rangers deal him.

Millwood and Padilla should bring back at least 1 guy capable of going in the rotation now. Plus guys like BMac, Harrison, Pirate, Mathis, etc. can all fill in when healthy.

I hardly see the Rangers dealing all the players I listed, but even if they did I think they will be a far cry away from not being able to field a capable team.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jul 8, 2008 1:10 AM CDT up 0 recs

anyone know

what the most players a team has traded off their major league rosters during the season is?
i agree that we have a lot of potential candidates for trade that id be willing to part with for prospects but i dont realistically see us sending off half a dozen guys.
mainly id like to see us trade cattallanotto, if for no other reason than to give a guy like him a better situation to be in. and id like to see us trade one (but not both) of milwood/padilla if it gives us the payroll flexibility needed to go after a sheets or sabathia type guy in the winter.

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Jul 7, 2008 7:56 PM CDT 0 recs