SigBaby

I wouldn't let the luxury tax effect us for this year. It gets progressively worse as time goes on, but year one it's not that bad. If that is the case with Arte, then what about a reunion with Kendrys? He will cost less than Garza and if we trade Trumbo+, we could get get a pitcher = to Garza, while replacing Trumbo with a better hitter in Kendrys. Sign Kendrys Sign Tanaka Sign Kurt Suzuki Trade Ianetta to Jays for prospects Trade Trumbo and Jepsen to D-backs for Miley/Skaggs/Cahill 1. Trout CF 2. Calhoun RF 3. Pujols 1b 4. Hamilton LF 5. Morales DH 6. Kendrick 2b 7. Freese 3b 8. Aybar SS 9. Conger C Suzuki, Jimenez, Green, Shuck 1. Weaver 2. Wilson 3. Tanaka 4. Cahill/Miley/Skaggs 5. Richards Frieri Smith De La Rosa Burnett Salas Kohn Maronde

Skaggs, Miley, Cahill- Give me 1 for Trumbo. We should also look at Daniel Hudson if he gets non-tendered. He used to be very good before he had injury issues.

Why Ricky Romero? He's dead money. We already have too much of that. I can't see any of these huge trades people keep bringing up ever happening. I could see Conger for Santos or Ianetta for Stroman/ other pitching prospect But I don't think we match up well fro a big trade involving Howie

11.25M for Gallardo is not bad considering the market right now. He also has an option for 2013. Trade Trumbo, Jepsen, Lindsey for Gallardo and Tyler Thornburg Sign Franklin Gutierrez and Kurt Suzuki Sign Jeff Niemann and Scott Baker to minor league deals Use Maronde as a second lefty/ long man Non-tender Nelson, Hanson, Williams, Gutierrez

No on Jimenez. Maybe on Garza. I would still look first for a Trumbo for Gallardo centered deal or a Trumbo for Cahill centered deal.

How are the Orioles in an advantageous position? Who else can they get? Brandon Phillips? I don't like trading a quality 2b for a #4 starter. I would rather do Trumbo + prospect for Gonzalez. Orioles need a LF and DH.

I wouldn't mind a platoon of Shuck and Green where Green is a DH and Shuck plays LF with Hamilton as DH

Hasn't Kuroda made it clear it's the Dodgers, Yankees, or Japan?

No thanks to Colon or Arroyo. I'd rather get a sure thing #3 and take a flyer on some risks for the 5 spot. Niemann is solid when healthy

I just realized that Bourjos is the next Franklin Gutierrez. Both have speed and are tremendous defensively. Both are injury prone. Both are inconsistent offensively and their K and BB rates are very similar. They put up some very similar offensive numbers, with Gutierrez's breakout year coming with a .280 average and 18 homers, which is pretty much the ceiling for Bourjos

Non-tender Gutierrez, Hanson, Williams. Trade Trumbo, Jepsen, Lindsey for Yovani Gallardo and Taylor Jungmann Trade Ianetta to Jays for prospects Trade/ release Blanton Sign Jeff Niemann Sign Kurt Suzuki Sign Franklin Gutierrez 1. Trout CF 2. Aybar SS 3. Pujols 1b 4. Hamilton DH 5. Kendrick 2b 6. Calhoun RF 7. Freese 3b 8. Conger C 9. Shuck/ Gutierrez LF Suzuki, Jimenez, Green, Shuck/Gutierrez 1. Weaver 2. Wilson 3. Gallardo 4. Richards 5. Niemann Frieri Smith De La Rosa Burnett Salas Kohn Maronde

Ianetta for Janssen? I'd do it in a heartbeat, but why would the Jays. They could probably trade for Hanigan for much less.

So Gutierrez and Jepsen will be non-tendered. Is it possible that we also non tender Hanson and Williams and realease Blanton, then use Roth or Maronde as the long reliever/ 2nd lefty. Frieri Smith De La Rosa Burnett Kohn Salas Roth/ Maronde

Frieri Smith De La Rosa Burnett Kohn Lefty FA Salas

Cool. I'd like to get another lefty. Does Jepsen get non-tendered?

Potentially the Braves and Reds might be interested. Braves have Beachy, Alex Wood, Medlen, Minor, Teheran, David Hale and upcoming prospects. Maybe we could get one of Beachy, Wood, Medlen

Keep in mind, I went to a Cardinals board during the season to see if they were interested in Aybar or Bourjos at the deadline and they were calling for Matheny to be fired. I'm pretty sure they were in 1st place.

It just doesn't make sense to me to release Blanton and still have to pay him and pay Williams as a long reliever.

This is what I see shaping up now that we are 1 trade piece down and the rotation still not helped. First of all, Williams and Hanson will be non-tendered. I think we will have to trade Trumbo + others for a 3, then look to sign 2-3 starters to minor league deals w/ incentives to compete with Blanton. Teams who could be interested in a Trumbo centered package : Orioles: Miguel Gonzalez Brewers: Yovani Gallardo Diamondbacks: Trevor Cahill/ Wade Miley Mets: Niese Rays: Hellickson/ Odorozzi Rockies: Chacin As for the 5 spot, I would sign 2-3 of the following to a minor league deal+ incentives: Scott Baker Roberto Hernandez Jair Jurrjens Jeff Karstens James McDonald Jeff Niemann Felipe Paulino Edinson Volquez Whoever pitches best gets a spot either as a starter or long reliever. Regardless, I think Blanton stays on as the 5 starter if he pitches the best or long reliever even if the other 2 out pitch him just because of his contract. 1. Weaver 2. Wilson 3. Trumbo trade 4. Richards 5. FA Competition/ Blanton

I think he'll be a decent middle reliever, but I'm just mad we didn't get a younger bullpen guy, of which the Cards have plenty.

Trumbo should be gone in a trade for a STARTER 1. Trout CF 2. Aybar SS 3. Pujols 1b 4. Hamilton DH 5. Kendrick 2b 6. Calhoun RF 7. Freese 3b 8. Conger C 9. Shuck LF

Feed him to Prince Fielder.

Why? Their pitching will be the same as this year- very good. But they will lose some offense even with Castellanos and Kinsler replacing Prince and Infante. They have to rely on a guy who could barely hit AAA pitching at SS (very good defensively, I'll give him that). Also Torii and V-Mart are getting older.

Cards just DFA'd Ryan Jackson, who got picked up by the Stros (good move for them). They will definitely be trading for a SS

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