Could we be the mystery team?
USA Today's Bob Nightengale says to keep an eye on a possible three-way trade involving the Tigers (Edwin Jackson), the Mariners (Brandon Morrow) and a third mystery team. Here's the link to Nightengale's tweet:
http://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/5863251011
I wonder if we might be the mystery team? If so, I can see Arroyo going to the Mariners, Jackson coming our way, and Morrow and a Reds player (Gomes?, Burton?) bound for Detroit. Why it's possible?
Mariners need starting pitching and want a steady and reliable veteran to eat innings. They supposedly have $30-$40 million to spend this off-season, so picking up Arroyo's $11 million still leaves them with lots of maneuvering room to obtain the other pieces they need to make a strong pennant run. They're giving up little in the deal, just absorbing salary.
Tigers trade a pitcher probably due an arbitration raise to $4-$5 Million in return for two younger promising pitchers (Morrow, Burton), or a pitcher (Morrow) coupled with a cheap DH for 2010 (Gomes). They are lacking a DH and reports indicate they don't really have the money to acquire one of the available DH free-agent candidates.
Finally, the Reds, in Jackson would get a modestly paid SP receiving less than half of what Arroyo would earn for the season. True, Jackson hasn't proven himself as durable or steady as Arroyo. Should he falter, no great shakes. Volquez will be back mid-season. But if Jackson soars, along with Cueto and Bailey, and we also get Volquez back, wow! What a great nucleus for a young, powerhouse pitching rotation.
Whether we were contending or not, the future would look bright. In contention, we let veteran Harang lead the young turks to glory. Out of contention, we move Harang come July, stocking up on whatever missing piece or pieces (C, SS) we might need to compete in earnest for 2011.
Re: Could we be the mystery team?
My guess would be the Brewers would be the mystery team and the Ms would get a position player
I can't imagine Morrow being on the block and the Brewers not trying to puch themselves to the front of the line.
Re: Could we be the mystery team?
Why do you think the Brewers are salivating to get Morrow?
True, they are after starting pitchers, but Morrow's diabetes has rendered him somewhat suspect as a starter. The Mariners let him start some games in 2009, but also tried him out as a closer, where he collected six saves.
That's why I see him potentially bound for Detroit along with either Burton, Gomes or both of them. Tigers have no money, but need a closer and a DH to compete in 2010. They surrender Jackson and potentially fill both needs at once. Jackson becomes expendable with Nate Robertson returning off the DL for the Tigers.
Re: Could we be the mystery team?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Guacarock
Why do you think the Brewers are salivating to get Morrow?
True, they are after starting pitchers, but Morrow's diabetes has rendered him somewhat suspect as a starter. The Mariners let him start some games in 2009, but also tried him out as a closer, where he collected six saves.
That's why I see him potentially bound for Detroit along with either Burton, Gomes or both of them. Tigers have no money, but need a closer and a DH to compete in 2010. They surrender Jackson and potentially fill both needs at once. Jackson becomes expendable with Nate Robertson returning off the DL for the Tigers.
Because they (the Brewers) like him (Morrow) alot.
Re: Could we be the mystery team?
I have read Brewers' fan boards where they clearly want the team to snag Morrow.
But now that they have traded J.J. Hardy, and lost Mike Cameron and Felipe Lopez to free-agency, it doesn't seem like the Brewers have many positional players left to spare -- unless the Mariners are interested in the untested Matt Gamel for their opening at 3B. Could be the case. We'll see soon enough.
Re: Could we be the mystery team?
It may well be the Mariners get Jackson and the Tigers get some kind of salary relief too, that or the Tigers include some kind of position player that the Mariners want or the Brewers agree to take Carlos Silva. The Mariners really don't "need" starting pitching in wanting Arroyo and his $11 - if that were the case they would have claimed him off waivers.
Re: Could we be the mystery team?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jojo
My guess would be the Brewers would be the mystery team and the Ms would get a position player
I can't imagine Morrow being on the block and the Brewers not trying to puch themselves to the front of the line.
Don't they need a 3B with Belte gone? Perhaps Casey McGahee, who the Brewers would move to make room for Gamel.
Re: Could we be the mystery team?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RedsManRick
Don't they need a 3B with Belte gone? Perhaps Casey McGahee, who the Brewers would move to make room for Gamel.
I've read the Brewers are pretty content with McGehee at third and don't feel comfortable with Gamel there defensively.
Re: Could we be the mystery team?
Another possibility if there's a three-way and JoJo is right about the Brewers being the mystery third party:
Mariners get Jackson
Brewers get Morrow
Tigers get rightfielder Corey Hart
Why it makes some sense?
Rumor mill has the Brewers dangling Hart for pitching, with the idea that they could substitute Gerut in Hart's place.
With Hart in the fold, the Tigers can decline Ordonez's option for 2010. Even if they have to pay Hart $3-$4 million and exercise Ordonez's $3 million buyout, the team still shaves about $14-15 million in salary -- representing the balance that would have been due to Ordonez plus whatever the Tigers would have paid Jackson following arbitration.
Hart had an injury-plagued off-season this year, but Ordonez seemed to be off even more -- his slugging declining preciptiously for a player due to make $18 million next season.
Re: Could we be the mystery team?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Guacarock
Another possibility if there's a three-way and JoJo is right about the Brewers being the mystery third party:
Mariners get Jackson
Brewers get Morrow
Tigers get rightfielder Corey Hart
Why it makes some sense?
Rumor mill has the Brewers dangling Hart for pitching, with the idea that they could substitute Gerut in Hart's place.
With Hart in the fold, the Tigers can decline Ordonez's option for 2010. Even if they have to pay Hart $3-$4 million and exercise Ordonez's $3 million buyout, the team still shaves about $14-15 million in salary -- representing the balance that would have been due to Ordonez plus whatever the Tigers would have paid Jackson following arbitration.
Hart had an injury-plagued off-season this year, but Ordonez seemed to be off even more -- his slugging declining preciptiously for a player due to make $18 million next season.
Ordonez's option vested during the Tiger's playoff run.
Re: Could we be the mystery team?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jojo
Ordonez's option vested during the Tiger's playoff run.
Well, there goes that theory! Back to the Ouija Board. The Dart Board. The...just plain bored with winter already.
Re: Could we be the mystery team?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RedsManRick
Don't they need a 3B with Belte gone? Perhaps Casey McGahee, who the Brewers would move to make room for Gamel.
They're going to want someone with more upside than McGahee if they are trading Morrow - they're going to want a sure fire 3B otherwise they have options inhouse.
Re: Could we be the mystery team?
I think we could be the Mystery Meat but not the mystery team.
