Roster Moves and Trade Talk
by Jon ~ July 25th, 2009
This Seattle Mariners team doesn’t look like they want to be contenders. After getting blown out last night they’re down 10-0 so far tonight. And Cliff Lee is scheduled to throw against the M’s tomorrow.
Sell, sell, sell!?!
Michael Saunders has been called up and, according to Don Wakamatsu, is going to play everyday. Wlad Balentien was designated for assignment to make room.
Wlad, who has struggled all season and has seemingly fallen out of favor with Wakamatsu, will be dealt in the next 10 days.
He probably won’t be alone, either. Lots of talk going on in comment threads around Lookout Landing, USS Mariner and Prospect Insider about the Mariners getting involved as a third team in Tampa Bay Rays/Cleveland Indians trade talks. SS Reid Brignac was pulled in the second inning of his AAA game. Reports are coming out that the pulling was in response to Brignac’s failure to run out a ground ball, or a minor injury, or something along those lines, but is scheduled to start the second game of the double header. Maybe that is true, but there are also some rumors about a three team deal that would send Jeff Clement and Brandon Morrow to Cleveland with a return of Brignac and Scott Kazmir from Tampa Bay. Hey, maybe we won’t be facing Cliff Lee tomorrow after all.
If such a deal went through, the Mariners would have to clear some payroll, which would most likely mean sending Jarrod Washburn off. The Yankees, Brewers, Dodgers and Phillies all seem to be interested.
I’ll comment on how such deals affect the team if they happen. These are just rumors, after all.
It’s going to be an interesting week heading up to the trade deadline.
15 Responses to Roster Moves and Trade Talk
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SABR Matt
July 25th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
What the banana-boat balzac is the big deal about Reid Brignac anyway?
A career .793 OPS in the minors…biased lower at higher levels. A mediocre baserunner. A *TERRIBLE* minor league K/BB. And not exactly an Omar Vizquel genius on defense either with a minor league F% of .952 (not that errors are the only thing…but it doesn’t look like he’s mastered his defensive craft at all).
And he’s already 23…so it’s not like he’s some raw 18 year old super-whiz.
Mariners121212
July 25th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Do the Yankees have any good SS prospects? Any ideas of who we could get from the Yanks in a Washburn deal?
SABR Matt
July 25th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
The top infield prospect in the Yankee system right now as Ronny Cedeno’s secretly misnamed younger brother Ramiro Pena. They have nothing at all that I would want for Washburn.
Jon Shields
July 25th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I’m not sure what we could get from the Yanks for Washburn. Something like McAllister, Melancon and Corona perhaps. Too much? Too little? Hard to say.
Maybe we could pry Hughes from them and give him a legitimate shot in the rotation.
Jon Shields
July 25th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Actually, McAllister is on the DL right now. So probably ‘no’ on that combination. I didn’t like it much, anyway.
Also, Brignac is indeed in the lineup for game 2.
gregrabble
July 25th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Would love to see that deal go through with Tampa and Cleveland. I would think all Reid playing in game 2 means is that he won’t be on any planes tonight.
SABR Matt
July 25th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
well that and the fact that’s a lazy dumbass who doesn’t run out grounders.
Brignac is nothing special…I don’t see why there is all this excitement over him.
Dustin Shires
July 25th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Gotta agree with Matt on this. Brignac isn’t anything special. He could be above-average if he could field, but I’m unsure about his defense. His hitting sure as hell isn’t impressive. I don’t see what the fuss is over him.
Jon Shields
July 26th, 2009 at 12:24 am
He’s taken major strides throughout his career on the defensive side. Early on most believed he’d have to be moved off the position, but by all accounts he’s busted his ass to make himself a better defender, and now most reports have him above average or at very least adequate on the defensive side.
Many say he’s worked so hard on his fielding that it has stunted his offensive growth, which was supposed to be his strength. 24 homers in his first year, 17 the next. His power has dropped, but he still has 10-15 homer pop, which anyone would love out of their shortstop. Walk rates aren’t great but his contact rates have gotten better and he’s showing this year that he can hit for a decent average.
I’m not a huge Brignac fan and I agree that he is extremely overrated within the Mariner blogosphere thanks in part to glowing endorsements by Dave Cameron, but he’s still a player I would love to have in the M’s system.
We have very little shortstop depth and none in the high minors. Gabriel Noriega and Nick Franklin are the best the M’s have and they’re years and years away. Adam Everett, Jack Wilson and Marco Scutaro are the best SS options figuring to be free agents next season.
Brignac is at least an ~average glove at shortstop and has the chance to be an above average bat for the position as well. That is pretty good out of the shortstop position.
pmbaseball7
July 26th, 2009 at 12:46 am
I agree. I would be happy with Brignac. I love Cedeno but something’s got to give. I was at the last two blowouts against Cleveland and we couldn’t hit the ball if it were a little leaguer pitching. We NEED a bat!! Is there any chance of landing Halladay in a trade?? Somebody told me we were in the running.. is this true?
Jon Shields
July 26th, 2009 at 1:04 am
No, we’re definitely not in the running nor should we be.
pmbaseball7
July 26th, 2009 at 1:11 am
Good, i just won a bet saying we were in no way in the running for him. lol. And have you heard about how Bedard’s shoulder is? Are they going to do some tests tomorrow on it? I heard that is why they took him out today. And Beltre is back in two weeks? .259 looks so good when your 3B is hitting .190. i can’t wait for him to be back
Mariners121212
July 26th, 2009 at 10:23 am
How about trading Washburn of Bedard for Jason Donald. Ruben Amaro offered him as part of the deal for Halladay.
Mariners121212
July 26th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Chad Cordero pitched yesterday in the rookie league. Does this mean he is close to finally pitching in the pros?
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_07_24_royrok_mrnrok_1
Mariners121212
July 26th, 2009 at 10:38 am
The M’s offered Wash to the Yankees for Melky and Gardner.