Dodgers, Orioles discussing trade for Eric Bedard

[Vada Pinson Fan]

Being reported by Tim Brown at Yahoo sports:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns take a look at the article. Could happen.

Matt Kemp 23 year old outfielder, as mentioned by Brown, would likely be a part of the deal with a possible host of other players going to Baltimore.

Please, please, Wayne Krivsky step up and grab Bedard if at all possible! I'm sure the Dodgers aren't the only ones speaking with the Orioles about Bedard, but man, no Reds info at all either locally or nationally that I can find.

[Bigredfan#1]

They should go after him hard. HE would instantly turn them into a contender. Harang, Bedard, Arroyo, Belilse and Bailey would give us a Great SHOT at winning the NLC. Als long as we don't have to mortgage our future get him! Then sign Cordero or Dotel if you can't afford Cordero and they would be set!

[757690]

If the dodgers are offering Kemp, it would take Bruce plus EE and/or Votto at least. The O's want three big young bats for Bedard and will get that from someone.

Kemp is as good, if not better prospect than Bruce, and is farther along, and they have more and better prospects than the Reds to offer. I can't imagine the Reds outbidding the Dodgers.

If I were WK I would trade Bruce for Bedard, but not much more.

[SMcGavin]

If the dodgers are offering Kemp, it would take Bruce plus EE and/or Votto at least. The O's want three big young bats for Bedard and will get that from someone.

Kemp is as good, if not better prospect than Bruce, and is farther along, and they have more and better prospects than the Reds to offer. I can't imagine the Reds outbidding the Dodgers.

If I were WK I would trade Bruce for Bedard, but not much more.

Matt Kemp is very good but is not a better prospect than Bruce. Bruce put up better numbers while in the minors and he is a better defender. I will agree with you though, if the price is Bruce + Votto I do not make the trade. Bruce isn't just a good prospect, he's the best prospect in baseball.

[757690]

Matt Kemp is very good but is not a better prospect than Bruce. Bruce put up better numbers while in the minors and he is a better defender. I will agree with you though, if the price is Bruce + Votto I do not make the trade. Bruce isn't just a good prospect, he's the best prospect in baseball.

Not so sure Bruce's #'s were better than Kemp's. Kemp as the edge to me. Bruce has a bit more power, but Kemp gets on base a lot more and can steal.
You are very correct that Bruce is better in the field. Not sure that makes up the difference.

Kemp's 2006 minor league #'s
G BA OBP SLG OPS R RBI's SB
92 .346 .414 .543 .957 75 70 25

Bruce's 2007 minor league #'s
G BA OBP SLG OPS R RBI's SB
133 .319 .375 .587 .962 87 89 8

However, here is why I think any team would take Kemp over Bruce.

Kemp's 2007 major league #'s
98 .342 .373 .521 .894 47 42 10

Bruce's major league #'s
0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0

You are correct that Bruce is one of the best prospects, if not the best prospect in baseball, but Kemp is one of the best if not the best young major league players. My main point is that he is more advanced than Bruce.
No one know how Bruce will adapt to the big leagues. Many a prospects have had Bruce type numbers and failed. Everyone knows how good Kemp is at the major league level.
I would trade Bruce for Kemp in a heartbeat.

[SMcGavin]

Not so sure Bruce's #'s were better than Kemp's. Kemp as the edge to me. Bruce has a bit more power, but Kemp gets on base a lot more and can steal.
You are very correct that Bruce is better in the field. Not sure that makes up the difference.

Kemp's 2006 minor league #'s
G BA OBP SLG OPS R RBI's SB
92 .346 .414 .543 .957 75 70 25

Bruce's 2007 minor league #'s
G BA OBP SLG OPS R RBI's SB
133 .319 .375 .587 .962 87 89 8

However, here is why I think any team would take Kemp over Bruce.

Kemp's 2007 major league #'s
98 .342 .373 .521 .894 47 42 10

Bruce's major league #'s
0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0

You are correct that Bruce is one of the best prospects, if not the best prospect in baseball, but Kemp is one of the best if not the best young major league players. My main point is that he is more advanced than Bruce.
No one know how Bruce will adapt to the big leagues. Many a prospects have had Bruce type numbers and failed. Everyone knows how good Kemp is at the major league level.
I would trade Bruce for Kemp in a heartbeat.

Well it's true that Bruce has not proven it at the ML level like Kemp has. I do take exception to your statement that many prospects have had Bruce like numbers and failed - there are maybe a handful of prospects who have ever done what he has done at his age. Probably more than any prospect in baseball, Jay Bruce is a sure thing. Matt Kemp is 23 now, Bruce will turn 21 just after opening day. In two years, when Bruce is 23, I'd bet his hitting will be similar as good or better as Kemp's is now, with good defense on top of it. So while there are a lot of players I would trade for Matt Kemp, Bruce is not one of them.

Interestingly we will likely see Bruce on a similar career path as Kemp. Kemp got 154 ABs as a 21 year old, struggling to a .733 OPS (.285 OBP). In 2007, as a 22 year old, he got 291 ABs and improved to a .896 OPS. Bruce will likely get 100-200 ABs this year and then assume a full time role in 2009, so I think those two will be a good comparison in a couple of seasons.

[thatcoolguy_22]

build a package around Jay Bruce. PROVEN superstar major league player over POTENTIAL major league superstar every single time

[hippie07]

Even if the Reds don't go for it.. I hope Bedard gets traded this offseason, I'm interested to see what it takes to land him?

I'm not sure we would have to give up Bruce, Votto, & EdE.. but I'd do 2 of 'em - maybe Bruce, EdE/Votto, and 2 lower-level 'spects :-)

It is amazing to me how much Reds fans overvalue current players and undervalue our prospects ... I think Bruce is worth a lot on the market!

[thatcoolguy_22]

Even if the Reds don't go for it.. I hope Bedard gets traded this offseason, I'm interested to see what it takes to land him?

I'm not sure we would have to give up Bruce, Votto, & EdE.. but I'd do 2 of 'em - maybe Bruce, EdE/Votto, and 2 lower-level 'spects :-)

It is amazing to me how much Reds fans overvalue current players and undervalue our prospects ... I think Bruce is worth a lot on the market!

Which is why we should use to him to pick up an Erik Bedard or Scott Kazmir (if he really is on the market)

Jay Bruce and Edwin Encarnacion for Bedard or Kazmir everyday of the week. I will even toss in a Maloney to boot

[hippie07]

Which is why we should use to him to pick up an Erik Bedard or Scott Kazmir (if he really is on the market)

Jay Bruce and Edwin Encarnacion for Bedard or Kazmir everyday of the week. I will even toss in a Maloney to boot

I concur, but it would suck to have to give up Bruce, he's almost guaranteed to be the real deal whereas there's no such guarantee for Bailey & Cueto.

I'd almost rather trade Bailey & whoever else it would take for Kazmir - plus Kazmir has 3 yrs left of team control compared to 2 years of Bedard. (I would even deeply consider Bailey & Cueto in the deal)

We will have tons of money to throw into the 2009 Free Agent Market (Even if we sign Dunn). I say we use it to purchase Derek Lowe.

A Starting Rotation of:
Harang
Kazmir
Lowe
Arroyo
Belisle

And we'd still have: Dunn, Hamilton, Bruce, Votto, Phillips, EdE in our lineup....

I like it!

[thatcoolguy_22]

A Starting Rotation of:
Harang
Kazmir
Lowe
Arroyo
Belisle

And we'd still have: Dunn, Hamilton, Bruce, Votto, Phillips, EdE in our lineup....

I like it!

a boy can dream can't he

[hippie07]

Isn't Hamilton > or = Kemp in value? Both have MLB experience - Hamilton more power and defensive prowess and Kemp better BA, little more experience..

I don't know ...

[757690]

Isn't Hamilton > or = Kemp in value? Both have MLB experience - Hamilton more power and defensive prowess and Kemp better BA, little more experience..

I don't know ...

IMHO, Hamilton is far > than Kemp, which is why I would not trade him. I'd rather trade Bruce plus others than Hamilton straight up for either Bedard or Kazmir.
Hamilton has shown in the majors that he has the tools to be one of the best players in the game, a true franchise player.

[ChatterRed]

Sorry, but I'm not trading Votto, Bruce, EE or mix in Hamilton..........I'm not trading 3 young big bats for one pitcher. I think that asking price is too high. I'd trade Hamilton and Bailey but not everyone else. In other words, I'd trade Bailey and one position player for either Bedard, Kazmir, or Peavy. Otherwise, no go. Part of the foundation of this team has to be built by guys we've developed and have cheaply for a few years to manage the salary cap since we're small market.

I'd still love to add one of those pitchers, but at the right price. Not going to be happy about some kind of Herschel Walker trade that completely mortgages our future.

I also agree that in 2009 we will have more financial flexibility to add free agents.

[Bip Roberts]

Id test the market for Bedard but I have no problem with sitting on these prospects.