3 realistic moves

[OnBaseMachine]

Stubbs and Maloney for Izturis? No way. He's decent but not that good. You could easily get Erick Aybar for that price.

[TRF]

Is Aybar that much better? if so that's cool with me.

[OnBaseMachine]

Is Aybar that much better? if so that's cool with me.

He's three years younger than Izturis and has more potential with the bat IMO.

[Raisor]

Homer to Chi for Dye to Atlanta for Escobar.

Sign Adam Dunn, 3 years 45 Million

I'm saving the third move until later.

[Mario-Rijo]

He's three years younger than Izturis and has more potential with the bat IMO.

But you really believe the Angels will trade off Aybar their future at SS for Stubbs and Maloney? If so I am all for it, I don't see it, but I do think that they would take less for Izturis who is an ideal bridge to a future stud SS for us.

[OnBaseMachine]

But you really believe the Angels will trade off Aybar their future at SS for Stubbs and Maloney? If so I am all for it, I don't see it, but I do think that they would take less for Izturis who is an ideal bridge to a future stud SS for us.

For the right price they will. He's more potential than production right now. And they have Brandon Wood and Izturis in house to replace him.

[corkedbat]

Gosh, all this Adam Dunn talk, you'd think he was the next Chris Denorfia

[Scrap Irony]

Sign Ronny Cedeno from the non-tender list for SS. Sign him and pray he's more AAA stud than major league disappointment. My bet is he's a possible leadoff hitter if given the spot and told to work it out. He may blossom under Dusty. If he's crap, there are a ton of back-up options, from Keppinger to AGon to Janish. (I still like Rosales as an offensive SS, but wonder about the range.)

Trade Bailey and Arroyo to Texas for Marlon Byrd and Taylor Teargarden. Start Teargarden at C, with Hanigan backing him up. He'll be expensive, but the combination of two erswhile aces (the Rangers could sell it that way, anyway) for a catcher and a glorified fourth OF looks like a steal. (Hell, it probably is overpaying, but I like young, cheap catchers and Cincinnati has nothing in the pipeline even remotely looking like an even bet to succeed at AAA, let alone the major league level. Byrd, too, is a valuable chip, as he would platoon with Dickerson in CF and play a day or two a week in left and right field. He's a solid bat and a good glove in any of the three OF spots. I think the Reds could net him about 450 ABs this season. He's fairly cheap as well.

Sign free agent OF Rocco Baldelli to a two-year, $8 million contract with incentives that push it to $15 million, if earned. No one seems to be on the former top prospect. I'm a big believer in his new regime of medication and he's a workout horse, so you know he'll be in great shape. Too, he's outstanding with the leather, a true CF. My guess is that he breaks out in the GABP offensively an shows enough speed to net a 30/30 season and Comeback Player of the Year honors.

That's a lineup of:
Cedeno SS
Dickerson/ Byrd CF
Votto 1b
EdE 3b
Bruce RF
Baldelli LF
Phillips 2B
Teargarden C

A rotation of:
Harang
Cueto
Volquez
Owings
Ramirez

If I could have another move, I'd look to an expensive stop-gap #3 starter, or even bust the bank with Ben Sheets (4/ $17 million per year) and pray for health.

[Benihana]

1. Homer Bailey for Jermaine Dye; Dye and $5MM for Yunel Escobar (Braves need $ to sign Burnett and Furcal)
2. Joey Votto for Alex Rios
3. Chris Valaika and Daryl Thompson for Adrian Beltre (EdE goes to 1B)

SS Escobar
LF Rios
RF Bruce
3B Beltre
1B Encarnacion
2B Phillips
C Hanigan
CF Dickerson

SP Volquez
SP Harang
SP Cueto
SP Arroyo
SP Owings

[corkedbat]

I think Rios is decent, but over-hyped. I wouldn't deal Votto for him.

1a. Deal Bailey for Dye (CHW)
1b Sign Furcal
2a. Deal EdE for Sanchez (SF)
2b. Deal Arroyo, Francisco and Reoncike for Beltre (Sea)
3a. Deal Freel for Ramon Hernandez(BAL)or for Snyder, Montero, Soppach or Snyder if they can be had for minor leaguers
3b. Sign Dennis Reyes, Arthur Rhodes, Joe Beimel or Wil Ohlman

CF Dickerson/Hairston ?
SS Furcal
1B Votto
LF Dye
RF Bruce
3B Beltre
2B Philllips
CA Hernandez/Hanigan

Bench:

RH PH
Keppinger
Castillo

Rotation:

Volquez
Harang
Sanchez
Cueto
Owings/Ramirez

Bullpen:

Owiings/Ramierz/Masset
Lincoln
Reyes/Rhodes/Beimel/Ohlman
Weathers
Bray
Burton
Cordero

[M2]

I think Rios is decent, but over-hyped. I wouldn't deal Votto for him.

Gold glove-quality defense in RF, fastest RF in baseball, consistent BA hitter, great gap power. There isn't a 1B in baseball I wouldn't trade for him outside of Albert Pujols.

[blumj]

You guys really think it takes a multi-year deal to sign Juan Rivera? He's barely played the last 2 seasons, and hasn't hit very well when he has played. I was actually thinking he might be one of the guys stuck having to take a minor league contract.

[Mario-Rijo]

You guys really think it takes a multi-year deal to sign Juan Rivera? He's barely played the last 2 seasons, and hasn't hit very well when he has played. I was actually thinking he might be one of the guys stuck having to take a minor league contract.

Acutally I think there is an outside chance if you offer him LF no strings attached he may take a 1 yr deal so he can have the opportunity to prove himself and become a FA again next offseason. How about a 1 yr deal with a mutual option (both have to accept) and in this case I think it works for both. And I think 8 million is what it would take at most for both years 3.5 in '09 and the option for 4.5 in '10.

[redsmetz]

Acutally I think there is an outside chance if you offer him LF no strings attached he may take a 1 yr deal so he can have the opportunity to prove himself and become a FA again next offseason. How about a 1 yr deal with a mutual option (both have to accept) and in this case I think it works for both. And I think 8 million is what it would take at most for both years 3.5 in '09 and the option for 4.5 in '10.

Given the economy, there may a number of players who take one year deals and give Free Agency a whirl next year in hopes the economy (and the baseball market) is in a better place.

[Mario-Rijo]

Given the economy, there may a number of players who take one year deals and give Free Agency a whirl next year in hopes the economy (and the baseball market) is in a better place.

Very True, probably a lot of those deals will be in January I'd imagine.