2011 Trade Watch (was trade deadline watch)

[Tyler Durden]

You actually think there aren't people on message boards that are smarter than some GM's in charge?

Just because you're in a position of responsibility doesn't mean that you're not incompetent.

I guess.  I'm sure there may be one or two people on this board who can do my job better than I can.  But I've been doing my job for a long time so those persons wouldbe the exception rather than the rule. 

[Tyler Durden]

JM Keynes: "Smithian economists say that the Depression will work itself out in the long run. Well, in the long run we are all dead." Approximately.

(In Nats terms: spend NOW, put some winners on the field, and develop the Rendons and other 2015 stars at the same time. Signing a fine $12 million pitcher pays for itself. Hoping that Josh Smoker and AJ Cole will be top-rotation starters in 2015 forgets that the franchise will be dead by 2015. Ten years of bad baseball causes fans to become interested in soccer and the Redskins OTAs.)

Boz mentioned in a couple of articles that he had noticed a shift in the Lerners thinking - that before, they expected the crowds (and their cash) to come first and then then they would start spending.  Now, he said, the Lerners have come to appreciate that they have to put a legitimate team on the field before the crowds will come and the money will flow.

We'll see.  Boz may have just been in an especially sunshine-y mood that day.  But Boz has been ahead of the curve before, so I'm hopeful.  Still need to see it to believe it. 

[MarquisDeSade]

We'll see.  Boz may have just been in an especially sunshine-y mood that day.  But Boz has been ahead of the curve before, so I'm hopeful.  Still need to see it to believe it. 

Sure, after five years of owning the team they're on their way to 16th in attendance in the NL.  For an area filled with overpaid honkies that's inexcusable. 

[imref]

cleared waivers list per MLBTR:

  

 Chris Capuano, Mets - Capuano owns a 3.74 SIERA as of August 14th and earns only $1.5MM plus incentives, so it's hard to see why a few teams didn't place claims.
    Bruce Chen, Royals - Chen has his moments, but it's not surprising to see him clear waivers.
    Rodrigo Lopez, Cubs - Same goes for Lopez.
    Carlos Zambrano, Cubs - Zambrano cleared waivers prior to being placed on the disqualified list.  He has a short fuse, lousy stats, and over $22MM remaining on his contract through next year.
    Jason Vargas, Mariners - Like many of the starters here, Vargas' fastball wouldn't break a window.  But he has less than a million bucks left on his contract this year and is under team control through 2013.  He'd fit nicely at the back end of several rotations.    
   Chien-Ming Wang, Nationals - His three starts this season were his first in over two years, so it's understandable that contenders wouldn't jump to claim him.
   Tom Gorzelanny, Nationals - Booted to the bullpen last month, the 29-year-old flyballing southpaw has posted strong strikeout rates in recent years but can't hold a rotation job.
    Ted Lilly, Dodgers - He always has strong strikeout-to-walk numbers, but is prone to the longball.  With over 82% of his $33MM contract remaining ($27MM+), it's no surprise he cleared waivers.
    Hideki Matsui, Athletics - The Athletics have several waiver trade candidates, and Matsui's hot second half and low salary (owed less than $2MM the rest of the season) could make him a popular target.
    Johnny Damon, Rays - Damon blocked an August trade last summer and 12 months later he's a candidate to be traded once again.

[PowerBoater69]

Boz mentioned in a couple of articles that he had noticed a shift in the Lerners thinking - that before, they expected the crowds (and their cash) to come first and then then they would start spending.  Now, he said, the Lerners have come to appreciate that they have to put a legitimate team on the field before the crowds will come and the money will flow.

We'll see.  Boz may have just been in an especially sunshine-y mood that day.  But Boz has been ahead of the curve before, so I'm hopeful.  Still need to see it to believe it. 

Boz has been writing this same BS since the Lerners bought the team.

[wpa2629]

thisisdspan Denard Span
by Evolution33
I'm finding out who my true friends are on this team


wow, wonder what that's all about ...

[wpa2629]

So, who gets moved?

[MarquisDeSade]

wow, wonder what that's all about ...

He's probably just mad Justin Morneau didn't refill the Slurpee machine.

[wpa2629]

He's probably just made Justin Morneau didn't refill the Slurpee machine.

[MarquisDeSade]

Fixed.  Damn new keyboard.

[machpost]

Every time I hear about this Zambrano mess, I can't help but think about how fast Jim Bowden would've been on the phone, trying to trade for him.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He's probably just mad Justin Morneau didn't refill the Slurpee machine.

Morneau has an inside track on ice.  He's Canadian.


[like a lot of our best posters!  1994!]

[daveb32]

Morneau has an inside track on ice.  He's Canadian.


[like a lot of our best posters!  1994!]

hells yes!

[Lintyfresh85]

@SI_JonHeyman

#astros just put wandy and myers on waivers

If Nats don't claim Wandy... either they have no money, or they don't care about winning.

[houston-nat]

If Nats don't claim Wandy... either they have no money, or they don't care about winning.

False dichotomy.

The third option is "or they are insane."

Claim Wandy. Claim Wandy. Claim Wandy. Claim Wandy. Claim Wandy. Claim Wandy. Claim Wandy. Claim Wandy. Claim Wandy. Claim Wandy. Claim Wandy. Claim Wandy.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Wandy . . .

Wandy . . .

Wandy . . .

Wandy . . .

If you say it often enough, then it will happen!

[Evolution33]

Someone explain why everyone likes this guy so much. Aside from one year he has been marginally above average and is paid like he is good.

[Tyler Durden]

The correct answer is - fire Rizzo.

[UMDNats]

Someone explain why everyone likes this guy so much. Aside from one year he has been marginally above average and is paid like he is good.

Sub-4.00 ERA the last four years, career WHIP of 1.344, 7.6 K/9...guy is a very solid pitcher.

[Evolution33]

Sub-4.00 ERA the last four years, career WHIP of 1.344, 7.6 K/9...guy is a very solid pitcher.

He is better than any free agent not named Wilson and possibly Sabathia this off-season. 3/34 might look like a good deal after Edwin Jackson bests that this off-season as well. The Nats might have won too many games to get him though.

[Lintyfresh85]

Someone explain why everyone likes this guy so much. Aside from one year he has been marginally above average and is paid like he is good.

Since 2008 his highest ERA is 3.60, (3.54, 3.02, 3.60, 3.50) he strikes out hitters at a solid rate and would be an amazing addition to the Nats rotation.

He's got the 21st best ERA in baseball since 2008, as well. He's an "ace" on a budget contract... and if you can't shell out 10 million a year for a pitcher, you shouldn't be in the baseball business. Especially when your payroll is only 60 million.

[HalfSmokes]

Sub-4.00 ERA the last four years, career WHIP of 1.344, 7.6 K/9...guy is a very solid pitcher.

Fips of 4.01, 3.5, 3.54, 3.62 the last four years

and all he'll cost is money- no real prospects, not forfeiting draft picks

[Lintyfresh85]

Fips of 4.01, 3.5, 3.54, 3.62 the last four years

and all he'll cost is money- no real prospects, not forfeiting draft picks

Exactly, all the Astros want to do is dump his contract, if the Nats agree to eat most of it (they won't) you could get him for Cutter Dykstra.

[houston-nat]

Fips of 4.01, 3.5, 3.54, 3.62 the last four years

and all he'll cost is money- no real prospects, not forfeiting draft picks

Yep. The Astros will want salary relief and a couple of the kind of prospect they can trot out on the field this year and delude their fans into thinking will be a real part of the future. In return we get the #3 starter we need at a pretty good price, and hope he doesn't collapse over the next three years.

[Evolution33]

I think I figured it out now. I was worried because it isn't often the tradionalist and the stat community agree a player is overpaid, but I would bet one is hung up on wins and loses and the other on age. still if he is such a bargain will he make it past the Orioles?