What moves do you think we will see before the deadline? Also, feel free to post any rumors you have heard.
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Pujols to Pittsburgh. Keep it under your hat.Comment -
Batista to the Mets, Zito to the Mets, Abreu to the Mets,
Willis to the Mets, everyone to the Mets.
Im sick and tired of the Mets!!Comment -
:an_roll_lOriginally posted by RickySteve
The Astros have made a rather strange move since the end of their latest loss yesterday that dropped them four games below .500 at 46-50. Houston sent lefty Wandy Rodriguez down to Triple-A Round Rock and called up right-hander Matt Albers from Double-A Corpus Christi. The Astros have been using a 4-man rotation since the All-Star break thanks to the schedule. Rodriguez, who had started 19 games for Houston, has been in the pen in that time. His nine wins are largely due to the run support he's gotten along the way.
Albers was leading the Texas League in ERA at the time of the move. But he's been starting this season, so he'll now have to make the adjustment to a big league pen.
But that's not the strangest part of the move. Brandon Backe is due off the DL this Saturday, so the club will have to make another move at that time, and the move will NOT involve Albers according to GM Tim Purpura who said Albers will be given every chance to show he deserves to stay in the bullpen.
The speculation now is that Fernando Nieve or Taylor Buchholz would be demoted to make room for Backe on the 25-man roster. There's a move that will need to be made on the 40-man as well.
Two more likey scenarios are the club will designate lefty reliever Trever Miller for assignment, or that they're about to make another trade. The hottest rumor is Miguel Tejada coming to Houston, possibly for some combination of Adam Everett, Morgan Ensberg and Brad Lidge. I really don't see that one, but I've been wrong before. An Ensberg for Scott Linebrink trade with San Diego has also circulated. If that happened, the club might also try and pick up someone like Shea Hillenbrand or Vinny Castilla, both recently released from their respective clubs Toronto and San Diego. It's enough to make your head spin.
The Padres can avoid trading away Linebrink now that Hillenbrand is out there practically for the taking. Personally, I think the main reason the Jays dumped Hillenbrand, besides the fact he's got a history of being a bit of a head case, is they could find zero takers for Hillenbrand earlier and now they have teams lined up asking about him. At least Toronto looks to be able to get something for Hillenbrand now.
Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro was interviewed on ESPN last night and he said clubs are very actively shopping for pitching, mentioning that clubs have asked him about a couple of Indians arms that have been generally listed as unavailable (I speculated he was talking about CC Sabathia, Jake Westbrook and Cliff Lee).
The team I expect to make a pretty big move is the Dodgers since they have plenty of youngsters they can offer up. The Yankees, always in the news, are in a bit of a quandry since they have relatively little to give up. Not to mention manager Joe Torre has gone on record saying he wants a pitcher despite most of the rumors about New York involving high priced bats like Alfonso Soriano and Bobby Abreu.Comment -
Well, from the latest things Ive read about I assume that Abreu will probably stay in Philly.
So will Smoltz, Zito, Willis, etc.
It would be interesting to find out where the Cleveland starters and the Pirates relievers end up.Comment -
I have been hearing Maddux might land in San Diego.Comment -
I was reading he has a home in Southern California so the Padres might be a good fit. I also heard the Dodgers.
Any team interested in Maddux would probably look at his "pitching coach" potential, more than his stuff.
And correct me if Im wrong but Maddux's postseason stats arent very good either.
Just to comment on Willies post I dont think the Astros would trade Brad Lidge away. That would be crazy.Comment -
That's what I've been thinking as well, but crazier things have happened with this franchise before.Originally posted by Bulldog
Maddux rumors include the Dodgers.Comment -
Here are some rumors:
Mike Lowell (Red Sox) to Padres for pitching.
Bobby Abreu (Phillies)
Teams interested are: Mets, Yankees and Tigers.
Alfonso Soriano (Nationals)
Teams interested are: Tigers, Mariners, Yankees, Angels and Dodgers.
Shea Hillenbrand (Blue Jays)
Teams interested are: Giants, Padres, Phillies, Dodgers, Twins and Brewers.
Miguel Tejada (Orioles)
Teams interested are: Astros, White Sox, Tigers and Angels.
Julio Lugo (Devil Rays)
Teams interested are: Brewers, Blue Jays, Mets and Red Sox.
Greg Maddux (Cubs)
Teams interested are: Brewers, Athletics, Dodgers and Padres.
Jason Schmidt (Giants)
Team interested: White SoxComment