re: The ATL Thread: All-Star Break Edition

Yeah Pujols won't end up in Pinstripes, Sox, or Phils

someone else is going to have to pay out the big bucks

back with the Cards IMO, maybe the Cubs

After spending the afternoon here's a couple of scenarios (just for fun, mostly).

Scenario 1

-Swap Agon + George Sherrill to Baltimore for Koji Uehara and J.J. Hardy. (Balty only goes for this if they can't resign Hardy as it gives them a playable and signable SS to hold over until Machado comes up).
-Looking at SS salaries, and considering Hardy's up and down past, I doubt he would command anything more than 8 mil./year. So you lock him up for a 3-5 year deal, escalating salary starting around 5.5 or higher (he's making 5.85 this year, but that's a one year deal). By comparison, Jimmy Rollins is making 11 million this year... in the final year of his deal... and he has an MVP trophy. Hardy isn't going to bank unless someone does something stupid.

That solves your leadoff hitter and RH reliever issues, as well as gives you an upgrade at SS and a better stop gap until Pastornicky is ready.

Lineup:

Hardy
Prado/Heyward (could play righty/lefty)
Chipper
McCann
Uggla
Prado/Heyward
Freeman
Schafer/McLouth

Obviously still weak in CF, but having an actual bat at SS rather than AGon makes the need to upgrade offensively there less important. So you probably roll Schafer most days for his defense, and use Nate off the bench and on Schafer's days of rest.
-Rely in house for bullpen (Medlen, Gearrin, Vizcaino, etc.)

It's entirely plausible financially, but I don't expect it to happen.

Scenario 2

-Chip retires end of the season freeing up cash.
-Sign Aramis Ramirez. Would be a decently large deal, but prob less than Chip would have cost. Only respectable 3B on the FA market.
-Make a deal for Peter Bourjos. Bourjos is basically better Jordan Schafer... better defense, better hitting... and the Angels aren't going to let him block the way to Mike Trout. They are paying Hunter through 2012 and Wells through 2014 and option on Abreu for 2012 as well... so Bourjos is kinda the odd man out in terms of production + value of return.

Those were a couple that ran through my mind.

I'd really like to acquire Hardy... I think that'd be my ideal. Not sure what to do about CF at this point.

What I'm guessing we do is make a trade for a guy like Ryan Ludwick and maybe get a Heath Bell also to shore up the RH reliever issue.

Apparently there is a Minor/Oltzy for Willingham/Zeigler rumor floating

That would make more sense

I still wouldn't really understand that deal. It would be nice to get that bullpen arm even though I'm not a big fan of wuertz but willingham makes no sense. He has value while Chips out but he's he's a bench player when Chips here

quote:

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No Bourn scenarios?

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Speculate away... I just wrote that shite in a hurry.

Who the hell is Stefan Gartrell.. he's tearing shite up for Gwinnett.. just won the AAA Homerun Derby..

I'm not asking, because I think he's MLB ready or anything.. He doesn't look like he can play any defense.. just wondering about him.. First I ever heard of him was this weekend.

I try to do my best to keep up with prospects but not much is known about this kid. Well I say kid, he's 27.

All I know is we got him from the White Sox when they took him off their 40 man roster at the beginning of the year

From the little info I've ever read about him. He plays decent defense with a nice arm. He does strikeout entirely too much without barely any walks which is probably a reason you don't hear much on him. His power is legit though.

Make it happen capt'n



Then turn around and make this happen



Bourn
Prado
Chip
BMac
Heyward
Uggla
Freeman
Hardy