No Deals for Washburn or Ibanez

by ~ August 14th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

The Minnesota Twins were the team that claimed Jarrod Washburn, according to various sources.  They don’t need starting pitching, so this was obviously a move to block the Detroit Tigers or Chicago White Sox from getting him.  The Tigers claimed Raul Ibanez but a deal couldn’t be worked out, which isn’t a shocker.

Minnesota’s block makes interim GM Lee Pelekoudas’ failure to deal Washburn at the July 31st deadline that much worse.  This was supposed to be the foolproof fallback option.  Who would have thought that Washburn would be blocked? 

Both players should play out the remainder of the season in Seattle colors, though Geoff Baker mentions that either player can be put back on waivers at any time this month, but what are the odds that putting them back on waivers won’t deliver the same results?  All we can do is cross our fingers, but don’t hold your breath.

Ibanez should walk this offseason and we’ll get the compensatory picks, and Washburn should be dealt before Opening Day, assuming our new GM is in place with enough time.

Start your ranting now.

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  • http://www.seatownsports.net seatownsports

    lee pelekoudas lost his chance at GM

  • Rob T.

    The Twins did not block washburn. They actually wanted him and tried to trade for him according to Baker but of course Lee asked for one of there good pitching prospects in return. I hate this team and there is no hope until the M’s are sold to Larson and Gillick becomes president. I have never seen a team have absolutely no clue how to build a roster.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Dustin Shires

    Seatownsports*
    Pelekoudas last his chance at GM on July 31. This just strengths that argument.

    Rob T.*
    I have to agree. Except in one way, and that is the lingerind affects of the current ownership and front office. Selling 80% of the team/farm and completely doing a Billy Beane type firesale is the only way. The damage has been done.

  • drivindave

    My goodness this is discouraging.What you think would be commonsense GM positioning has become unforgivable blundering.We all took a step backward today, on our way to recovery we just had to walk buy the Liquor store didnt we?

    Calling up our prospects,firing whom we fired,all steps forward……this..arrggg I just dont see any logic in this.We could have added room for Fierbend and RRS with Washy going bye bye and free up lots of money.Well crap on a stick….

    You should read the venom on USS and Lookout Landing wow they are pissed and I can’t say as I blame them.

    Aahhh if only we could run the M’s for awhile but alas that day is not this day…

    ..DrivinDave walks across the street opens the door to the Liquor store pauses for a second to ponder about going forward..then memorys of the days debacle reigns in….
    ..DrivinDave is later seen completly inebriated stumbling down 1st ave naked screaming,”Damn you Lee, Damn you!!

  • Brandon

    Lol..And yet, DrivinDave’s latest stumble is nothing in comparison to what Lee just did to this team.
    Why in the world did we not dump Wash when we had the chance? Is it because he’s an outstanding pinch runner when we run out of people on the bench?

    This season is LOST. We need to make the youth movement now so that there are a few less growing pains next year if at all possible…
    Or maybe next year our rotation can be..

    King Felix
    Erik Bedard (for maybe 5-6 starts before he turns Nancy on us)
    Washed up
    Batista
    Silva

    This rotation sure turned us into contenders this year.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Dustin Shires

    Felix and Silva are the only guarentees to finish out 2009 in my opinion.

    Batista can’t doesn’t have anything left, and RRS and Morrow have more talent in their pubic hair than Batista has in his entire body.

    Bedard will be dealt before July 31, easily. That way, we get as much in return as possible.

  • rudolf

    The Mariner FO is afraid our rotation won’t hold up in 2009 w/out Washburn or another proven vet starter, and that is why they won’t give him away for salary relief.

    There is a reasonable chance that Morrow will spend some or all of 2009 in AAA, as may Fierabend. RRS is no guarantee to lock down a spot in the rotation, either. Bedard may be traded in the off-season, and surely will be by July 31st. The M’s want to make sure we can get 27 outs a game for 162 games, and are leery about depending on kids to get the job done.
    Washburn comes with a one year committment, one more year to get Morrow, Fierabend, and RRS up to speed as 33 start pitchers. That’s better than signing another mediocre pitcher to a multi-year contract, perhaps blocking one of our young starters in 2010 or beyond.

    Washburn isn’t that bad, and 2009 is going to be a rough year. We aren’t going to buy enough free-agents to contend next year, and if for some ungodly reason we do, we’ll lose anyway. If we do trade him in the off-season, we’ll surely get a major league ready starter in return.

  • rudolf

    Am I the only one that sees it this way? Are the lot of us too hopeful? Too desperate? Too pissed off to look at the big picture?

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Dustin Shires

    I don’t see any way that Bedard is traded in the off-season. His value is absolutely shot due to his “injuries” (maybe we should CAT scan his head?). He will be dealt by July 31 though…

    As for the Washburn being kept, I think it was Pelekoudas’ high asking price. There’s no way that “being a vet” is what kept him in the rotation. Salary relief wasn’t enough for him…

  • Brandon

    Just saw on ESPN fantasy baseball that feierabend is the starter for tomorrow’s game. Anyone else pumped to have more fresh blood to hopefully edge out one of the crappy veterans next year?

  • Brandon

    I am no longer pumped to see feierabend in the rotation :/