Originally Posted by
shaunsinger
I like his hardball strategy. When you say you aren't giving up someone that means they are gonna have to give up more cause our "intention" ( FAT quotes ) is to keep the guy.
I mean.............Mr. DePodesta and Mr. Terry Ryan, we wanna "keep" Wilson and Lidle for that "Stretch run"
Dang! I didn't realize that we received Scott Kazmir and BJ Upton for Todd Jones and a minor league OF! (DWIS) Hardball? For a couple of mediocre prospects? Puleeze!
I don't see that moving Todd Jones was that important unless he was included in a deal for an impact player. Like many have been saying - stand up to the contenders and make them pay. I'm not saying TJ was worthy of an A- Level prospect, but combine him with Wilson or Lidle or LaRue, etc. for a solid B which would be preferrable to the two level C's we received, IMO.
The remainder on his contract for this year was not that much, he was a great clubhouse presence (i.e. horsing around with the fans this evening) and while his 8-2 record/ 3.79 ERA and 51 apearances were not gaudy, hwe was a comparatively settling factor in a very shaky bullpen that now boasts Ryan Wagner and John Reidling as its top two RH setup options. Things have been ugly lately but don't bet they can't get uglier and that they can't carry over to next year.
Like I said earlier, I'm not that down on this trade, but to place this deal on a pedestal as a monument to DanO's perservernce and ability to play hardball is absurd.
In fact, my first impression of this deal is the same as my early opinion of DanO himself...ho-hum.
Coming up with just enough solid players and just enough winning months to keep this club in a perpetual 3rd-4th place cycle. Enough potential to give the fans some tenuous hope, but not enough hope to force the FO into a position of too much pressure to add to payroll.
DanO, like this deal, may well turn out better than it first appears, but as of yet, there's very little to make me believe.