MLB Trade Deadline--RJ Style

[Bodhizefa]

If that's the way the Sox will go, clearly they won't get him. Too bad, Beltran has become a difference-maker again. And the Sox may need that in a highly competitive AL East.

The Mets strategy on Beltran is simple: get the best package of prospects available. Period. They are not hard up for a salary dump, like in the KRod situation. It's only $6m, not potentially $17.5m. Every team knows he's available; every team knows he's the best hitter on the market. And it's a seller's market this year.

If the reports are true and the Mets pick up his entire salary, then even teams like Pittsburgh and Cleveland have to be in on the bidding. And we know they have the prospects. The Mets hit the jackpot with the resurgence of Beltran with the resurgence of a few small-market teams who have hoarded prospects.

Can the Mets get a Jason Kipnis? Pedro Alvarez? Jarrod Parker? The sky's the limit. But they will land an A-list prospect for him.

They may very well land an A-list prospect for Beltran, but the buying team would be dumb to give up an A-lister so close to the big leagues. I expect a big name or two to be moved for Beltran, but I anticipate it will be for guys in A-ball or AA rather than someone polished and immediately ready to contribute. Or if they do get polished players, I doubt the players will be true blue-chippers. Just my opinion.

[revo]

They may very well land an A-list prospect for Beltran, but the buying team would be dumb to give up an A-lister so close to the big leagues. I expect a big name or two to be moved for Beltran, but I anticipate it will be for guys in A-ball or AA rather than someone polished and immediately ready to contribute. Or if they do get polished players, I doubt the players will be true blue-chippers. Just my opinion.

You're probably right, although the current info has the Yanks dropping out "because they can't compete" on the package needed to land him. One thought was the Giants would part with Zach Wheeler for Beltran.

I think the Mets will deal him this week, possibly over the weekend.

[Bodhizefa]

Can anyone explain to me why everyone seems to think the Cardinals need bullpen help? They could definitely use a good situational lefty, but with Boggs, Motte, Salas, and Lynn, the back of their pen is actually pretty good. Maybe I'm overrating Lynn, but he's been pretty badass since being put in the bullpen and I think he has the stuff and control to continue. And Salas has actually been really good as their closer overall. I dunno, it just seems like the perception of the Cardinals being weak in the bullpen isn't actually the reality. Their real problem seems to stem from the fact that their starting pitching beyond Garcia and Carpenter really isn't very good. If I were them, I'd be aiming for a good starting pitcher (like Bedard, if he can actually come back all right, or Shields or whomever else they can get their hands on) instead of a guy who isn't likely to help them that much like Heath Bell.

[Hornsby]

From ESPN...

BALTIMORE -- Eleven days before the July 31 trading deadline, the Red Sox's position on New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran has not changed, despite reports that Boston is aggressively pursuing him.

The Red Sox have made known their interest to the Mets, but at this stage are unwilling to part with the type of top-tier prospects New York is seeking in return, according to a Red Sox source.
And as much as they would like a right-handed bat, the Red Sox may have more pressing needs to address, especially on the pitching side, with three-fifths of their starting rotation out of action and reliever Bobby Jenks on the disabled list for a third time.

"We're interested in Beltran, but the price would have to be sensible," one Red Sox source said Wednesday, reiterating the position Boston maintained from the outset. "We lost a lot of good prospects for (Adrian) Gonzalez and want to protect our better minor leaguers."

Another major league source with ties to Beltran also expressed doubt that the veteran outfielder will wind up in a Boston uniform.

"I don't think they make a hard play," the source said.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/6787300/boston-red-sox-carlos-beltran-price-too-high-source-says

[Hammer]

Can anyone explain to me why everyone seems to think the Cardinals need bullpen help? They could definitely use a good situational lefty, but with Boggs, Motte, Salas, and Lynn, the back of their pen is actually pretty good. Maybe I'm overrating Lynn, but he's been pretty badass since being put in the bullpen and I think he has the stuff and control to continue. And Salas has actually been really good as their closer overall. I dunno, it just seems like the perception of the Cardinals being weak in the bullpen isn't actually the reality. Their real problem seems to stem from the fact that their starting pitching beyond Garcia and Carpenter really isn't very good. If I were them, I'd be aiming for a good starting pitcher (like Bedard, if he can actually come back all right, or Shields or whomever else they can get their hands on) instead of a guy who isn't likely to help them that much like Heath Bell.

I agree 100%. I think some are not seeing big names in that pen but theyve done just fine, including Salas who has become a bit of a whipping boy of late.