Eric Bedard and Scott Kazmir on the Trade Market

[mound_patrol]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/1...s-will-li.html

Orioles Will Listen On Bedard
New Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail confirms what we've been reading for the past few months: the club will at least listen to offers for ace Erik Bedard. He adds that the O's have had preliminary, general extension talks with Bedard. I imagine that if Bedard is looking for the $18-20MM per year he could get on the open market, the O's will choose to trade him. Two years of Bedard is at least as good as one of Johan Santana, and Bedard doesn't have any no-trade stipulations. He made just $3.4MM this year.

What are your thoughts on a reasonable package the O's might get for Bedard? The typical Matt Kemp/Clayton Kershaw speculation seems to fit here.

MacPhail also admits that he'd prefer to have flexibility rather than all the long-term contracts the team has committed to. He expects an active trade market, and you can bet the Orioles will be in the middle. Miguel Tejada is likely to be dealt, especially if his name is absent from the Mitchell Report.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/1...azmir-may.html

Rays' Kazmir May Be Available
The week in hot stove kicks off with a bang: Joel Sherman of the New York Post has a source saying the Devil Rays might listen to offers for ace lefty Scott Kazmir. Kazmir turns 24 in January and carries a 3.64 career ERA despite pitching in the AL East. He's been particularly tough on the Red Sox (2.66 ERA in 101 innings). You have to think that if the Yankees are entertaining making an offer for Johan Santana, they'd consider Kazmir as well if the Rays would deal within the division.

Sherman notes that Kazmir is under contract for three years as opposed to just one for Santana, which could equate the two pitchers in the marketplace. Erik Bedard, under control for two years, has to be in that group of elite, possibly available southpaws as well. Sherman believes the Rays would seek "multiple high-end pitchers" for Kazmir, who is entering arbitration for the first time this winter. The Yankees could offer a package starting with Phil Hughes, but the Mets don't seem to have the goods. It would take a pitcher of that nature - Hughes, Yovani Gallardo, Clay Buchholz. Otherwise, why would the Rays consider it?

Sherman also echoes the surprising notion that Tim Lincecum could be had for the right bat. He speculates that the Giants could pursue Carl Crawford or Delmon Young as the return. Hey, our Delmon speculation is catching on!



Bedard and Kazmir are the type of players the reds should target in a trade this offseason. What is everyone willing to give up to get these players?

[*BaseClogger*]

I'd give up Bailey for somebody who has already proven something in the big leagues...

[mound_patrol]

If I was Krivsky I'd offer Bailey and Maloney for Kazmir. For Bedard I'd offer Hamilton and Edwin.

[AmarilloRed]

Last I heard the Orioles were seeking multiple position players for Bedard-Votto, Hamilton, and Edwin? As for Tampa Bay, they are looking to get back multiple high-end pitching prospects back. We would definitely need to give up either Bailey or Cueto and add Maloney, or if Tampa Bay played hardball in a trade we might need to give up both Bailey and Cueto

[hippie07]

Last I heard the Orioles were seeking multiple position players for Bedard-Votto, Hamilton, and Edwin? As for Tampa Bay, they are looking to get back multiple high-end pitching prospects back. We would definitely need to give up either Bailey or Cueto and add Maloney, or if Tampa Bay played hardball in a trade we might need to give up both Bailey and Cueto

I would do both those trades, but I think I would only do pick 2 of [Hamilton, Votto, EdE] and then maybe some lesser prospects. And for Kazmir - how about Cueto, Maloney, & Wood.

That would leave us w/ a Starting Rotation of:
Harang,
Kazmir,
Bedard,
Arroyo,
Bailey ....... wow my mouth is watering at that rotation.

AND Kazmir & Bedard aren't TOO expensive next year, which would give us some money to throw around in the FA market maybe to buy a closer... wow, that excites me!

[kaldaniels]

I would do both those trades, but I think I would only do pick 2 of [Hamilton, Votto, EdE] and then maybe some lesser prospects. And for Kazmir - how about Cueto, Maloney, & Wood.

That would leave us w/ a Starting Rotation of:
Harang,
Kazmir,
Bedard,
Arroyo,
Bailey ....... wow my mouth is watering at that rotation.

AND Kazmir & Bedard aren't TOO expensive next year, which would give us some money to throw around in the FA market maybe to buy a closer... wow, that excites me!

A pipe dream perhaps...but the Reds would be in contention the next 5 years.

[hippie07]

This is great... I for one am having so much fun speculating what the Reds might do or try to do this offseason. Have you noticed, though, that we actually have prospects that we can toss around in trade offers. I mean some of them would hurt a whole lot to lose, but at least it seems we have a ton of high-quality prospects to get teams attention with, but in pitching and in offense.

Pitching: Bailey, Cueto, Maloney, Wood, et al.
Offense: Hamilton (my favorite player), Votto, EdE, Bruce

I think - depending on how brazen of a package we put together - we could pretty much have anyone we want in a trade.... when's the last off-season that we've been able to say that!!?

[muethibp]

Do we have a "Maloney" other than the low ceiling, soft tossing guy we got for Lohse?

[Screwball]

Do we have a "Maloney" other than the low ceiling, soft tossing guy we got for Lohse?

That's one way to describe him. You can also describe Adam Dunn as a defensive liability who strikes out too much. Both would be true, but also completely ignore the good qualities they have (power, on base skills for Dunn; excellent control and is a lefty for Maloney) while providing a skewed picture of the player.

[SMcGavin]

Let's say the D-Rays call and say Kazmir is available for Bailey and Cueto - do you do it? For what it's worth I think Tampa Bay would do that trade, if they want a couple of high-ceiling arms they probably won't get a better offer than that. So, would you do it?

[GoReds33]

Let's say the D-Rays call and say Kazmir is available for Bailey and Cueto - do you do it? For what it's worth I think Tampa Bay would do that trade, if they want a couple of high-ceiling arms they probably won't get a better offer than that. So, would you do it?

No. Bailey in my mind would be all I would give from the top prospect bin. I wouldn't deal Cueto unless they were willing to part with Edwin Jackson of Ellijah Dukes. Even then I wouldn't give them both Bailey and Cueto, just Cueto. In my mind Cueto is a better prospect, until Bailey can gain his control of his offspeed stuff. I love Dukes' potential. He is a monster. I think that he fits the type of player that Krivsky could be looking for. Jackson is a good young arm that I would love to have.

[hippie07]

Let's say the D-Rays call and say Kazmir is available for Bailey and Cueto - do you do it? For what it's worth I think Tampa Bay would do that trade, if they want a couple of high-ceiling arms they probably won't get a better offer than that. So, would you do it?

Yes..... and here's why. I don't really know that much about Kazmir, but if he truly is already an ace ... w/ a reasonable contract over the next couple years.. then what is his downside? Not many aces fall completely off the table (unless due to injury), however, many high profile prospects do. We'd essentially be trading two possible gems, for 1 actual one. I know it's a gamble, but it's a gamble that a smart team makes, IMO.

[Screwball]

Let's say the D-Rays call and say Kazmir is available for Bailey and Cueto - do you do it? For what it's worth I think Tampa Bay would do that trade, if they want a couple of high-ceiling arms they probably won't get a better offer than that. So, would you do it?

Tough question there. That's giving up a lot of talent, but Kazmir is also one of the top pitchers in all of baseball (IMO), and he's a lefty to boot. But still, I just couldn't give up that much young talent when we'd still be far away from actually contending for a World Series.

We'd have a great trio of Harang, Kazmir, and Arroyo, but who could we rely on for 4-5? Belisle? Shearn? Maybe Maloney? Not to mention the bullpen is still in shambles. Weathers was solid last year, but can we really expect him to repeat in '08? Who besides Burton can nail down the coffin (so to speak) in the middle-to-late innings?

Bottom line is, if this team was one stud starter away from greatness, then I'd hesitantly pull the trigger (a la Hanley Ramirez for Josh Beckett). But as it stands, let the young guns come up and produce, hopefully filling two holes for years to come.

[hippie07]

Tough question there. That's giving up a lot of talent, but Kazmir is also one of the top pitchers in all of baseball (IMO), and he's a lefty to boot. But still, I just couldn't give up that much young talent when we'd still be far away from actually contending for a World Series.

We'd have a great trio of Harang, Kazmir, and Arroyo, but who could we rely on for 4-5? Belisle? Shearn? Maybe Maloney? Not to mention the bullpen is still in shambles. Weathers was solid last year, but can we really expect him to repeat in '08? Who besides Burton can nail down the coffin (so to speak) in the middle-to-late innings?

Bottom line is, if this team was one stud starter away from greatness, then I'd hesitantly pull the trigger (a la Hanley Ramirez for Josh Beckett). But as it stands, let the young guns come up and produce, hopefully filling two holes for years to come.

I guess I disagree. I think that as a general policy it's bad to trade young promising players for one year rent-a-player types... but for a guy like Kazmir that has (I think) three years left on his reasonable contract... I don't think that's nearly the same thing. What if we got Kazmir & Bedard (or a comparable duo of pitchers - for the players I mentioned earlier) ... granted we'd have too give up alot ... but then we could buy a closer (which I feel will make the remaining elements of our bullpen fall in line). Who's to say we couldn't contend w/ that... we'd definitely have the best starting rotation in the NL Central ... maybe in baseball ...and the cool thing is that we have the prospects to make it happen NOW!!! Next year, any number of things could happen.... Bailey could suck... Hamilton could come down to earth or continue his injury bad luck... anything could happen in the next year... why not trade them while they're hot and there are "supposedly" the missing pieces that our team needs on the trading block.

With our starting rotation and bullpen in line... we could start the season and see how our offense works out and if it needs help we could always try to obtain someone before the deadline..... and.... I dunno, I think a playoff run becomes extremely possible... and not in some fairytale ... crazy-optimistic land, but in reality.

[Screwball]

I guess I disagree. I think that as a general policy it's bad to trade young promising players for one year rent-a-player types... but for a guy like Kazmir that has (I think) three years left on his reasonable contract... I don't think that's nearly the same thing. What if we got Kazmir & Bedard (or a comparable duo of pitchers - for the players I mentioned earlier) ... granted we'd have too give up alot ... but then we could buy a closer (which I feel will make the remaining elements of our bullpen fall in line). Who's to say we couldn't contend w/ that... we'd definitely have the best starting rotation in the NL Central ... maybe in baseball ...and the cool thing is that we have the prospects to make it happen NOW!!! Next year, any number of things could happen.... Bailey could suck... Hamilton could come down to earth or continue his injury bad luck... anything could happen in the next year... why not trade them while they're hot and there are "supposedly" the missing pieces that our team needs on the trading block.

With our starting rotation and bullpen in line... we could start the season and see how our offense works out and if it needs help we could always try to obtain someone before the deadline..... and.... I dunno, I think a playoff run becomes extremely possible... and not in some fairytale ... crazy-optimistic land, but in reality.

All reasonable points, which makes the trade ideas so tempting. If there was some hope that the bullpen could be shored up just enough to not sabotage the efforts of the SPs, then go ahead and make it happen. But if there's 1 big knock on Krivsky, it's that he's been abysmal at creating an effective bullpen, despite numerous efforts. It'd be tough to swallow giving up all that young, cheap talent to still have no hardware to show for it.

Also, my guess is Castellini would have to approve a substantial increase in payroll. Though if he is to be believed, that shouldn't be a problem.