Insane trade ideas

[M2]

So we've got the trade deadline looming and I'm thinking we can come up with far more radical trade suggestions than anything that's going to happen in real life.

I'm not really looking for assessments for how realistic a trade idea is, a snowball's chance in hell will do. Let's face it, any trade idea we post is automatically unrealistic because we don't run the team.

What I'm really looking for is some quality dung flinging. You never know what'll stick on the wall.

Here's one makeover idea:

Josh Hamilton, Alex Gonzalez and Johnny Cueto to the Blue Jays for Armando Rios and, if you can pry him loose by upgrading to Cueto, Curtis Thigpen.

J.P. Ricciardi desperately needs a SS. Cueto's red hot these days and the Jays lack LH power. Rios, probably untouchable, strikes me a likely prototype for a Krivsky kind of player.

Ken Griffey Jr. to the Mets for Carlos Gomez

The Mets aren't scoring enough and that franchise surely wants to a World Series this year. Plus, Jr. gives them the backpages on the daily rags for the rest of the season. Bat plus box office for a franchise that can afford to trade an OF prospect. If the Mets want some extra pitching, I'm perfectly willing to kick in Kyle Lohse, an arm Rick Peterson might be able to soup up and perhaps a good fit for Shea, if they'll kick in Phil Humber, who's having his issues in AAA (he might make a fascinating closer candidate if he can't pull it together as a starter).

Ryan Freel to the Pirates for Brian Bixler

The Pirates surely have to be worried about their scrappiness. They're also 13th in the NL in swipes. Now, they could deal Jack Wilson and play Bixler and that would add scrappiness and speed, but they won't do that. Freel's got legendary scrappiness. He's a one-man ESPN highlight reel. The Bucs will be so excited they won't even notice they're trading a younger version of Freel, one that can play shortstop, for Freel.

[HumnHilghtFreel]

Is that first one supposed to be Alex Rios? Never heard of Armando.

How about Dunn to the Angels for Reggie Willits(as the one I haven't heard in any of the Dunn to the Angels deals) and Brandon Wood.
The Angels get the power threat in their lineup, the Reds get a legit leadoff hitter and a good 3b prospect.

[RedLegSuperStar]

Josh can't be dealt without being offered back to the Devil Rays.

[redsfan4445]

Josh isnt going anywhere!

[Jpup]

insane is correct. no way Josh Hamilton should be anything other than a Cincinnati Red for the next 7 years.

[M2]

Originally Posted by redslegssuperstar

Josh can't be dealt without being offered back to the Devil Rays.

I think he can be. He was traded to the Reds by the Cubs. He can't be demoted without being offered back to the D-Rays.

And, yeah, that was Alex Rios. Mistakenly used the first name of the former Giants OF there.

[15fan]

Here are the Current Standings.

AL Central is a 2 horse race between Cleveland and Detroit.

No way is Steinbrenner going to let the Red Sox runaway from the rest of the AL without making a move.

NL West is a 3 horse race with San Diego, LA and Arizona.

Maybe a couple teams (NY / Atlanta) in the NL East will be buying.

I'd only trade with the Brewers or Cubs if they pay a big time premium since they're in the division.

[Red Heeler]

Adam Dunn + Kyle Lohse to the Seattle Mariners for OF Wladimir Balentien and CF Adam Jones.

Ken Griffey Jr. + David Weathers to the Braves for LHP Matt Harrison, LHP Jo-Jo Reyes, and SS Yunel Escobar.

Alex Gonzalez + $$$ to the Blue Jays for C Curtis Thigpen.

The line-up post trades would be a younger, more athletic team that would still have some pop to it.

C - Ross/Thigpen
1B - Votto
2B - Phillips
SS - Escobar
3B - Encarnacion
LF - Balentien
CF - Jones
RF - Hamilton

[M2]

Originally Posted by Red Heeler

Adam Dunn + Kyle Lohse to the Seattle Mariners for OF Wladimir Balentien and CF Adam Jones.

Ken Griffey Jr. + David Weathers to the Braves for LHP Matt Harrison, LHP Jo-Jo Reyes, and SS Yunel Escobar.

Alex Gonzalez + $$$ to the Blue Jays for C Curtis Thigpen.

Now that's what I'm talking about. Why, we've already achieved a Double Thigpen in this thread.

I'm fundamentally unable to assess Balentien's game because I like his name too much.

[Benihana]

I'm sorry but I really don't understand the appeal of the Rios trade. True, Rios is a better version of Hamilton right now, but I would argue that not only has Hamilton already begun to show some ML success, he has a significantly higher ceiling. Giving up our top pitching prospect (not to mention our starting SS) just to acquire more of a sure thing with a lower ceiling just doesn't make much sense to me, especially given the fact that Hamilton is signed at a first year level deal (and controlled for 5 more years). Also, while I'm not one for sentimentality over baseball decisions, I think a lot of Reds fans have latched on to Hamilton, and there's no real baseball reason to dump him at this point. I have no problem trading Gonzalez- I've always wanted to see BP at SS, but this deal just doesn't appeal to me at all.

[Guacarock]

How about we deal Dunn to the Chicago White Sox for 3B Joe Crede and LHP Gio Gonzales, now in AA?

The tricky part of the trade: It can't be consummated until late in September or during the off-season, owing to the fact that Crede is on the DL at least two more months recuperating from back surgery.

Why it works for the Sox? Looks like they could be losing Dye to free-agency and want to shed Podsednik. They desperately need a big bopper in the OF, they can afford Dunn and they have Josh Fields finally ready and battle-trained to replace Crede.

Why it works for the Reds? We get the monster RH bat we've been seeking for the middle of the order. We probably get him at a discount, seeing as how he's coming off a major surgery and didn't do much in 2007. Crede made $4.94 million this season on a one-year contract. The White Sox have rights to him through 2008, providing he's offered arbitration during the off-season.

With Crede's arrival, we stand a good chance to replace Dunn's offense. Crede, after all, hit 30 dingers in 2006, and whatever he can't get done, we can leave to Votto and, hopefully, a maturing EE.

Where does everyone play: Probably Crede at 3B, EE at 3B and 1B, and Votto at 1B and LF, although maybe Crede gets moved over to 1B, rather than EE, if the surgery has slowed down Crede's reflexes.

The bonus in all this: Besides saving a few million, adding flexibility and RH muscle, we would snag a southpaw wunderkind to join Bailey in the rotation. Gio Gonzalez is sporting a 6-4 record, 2.91 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, with 110 KOs in 92.2 IP.

Risky? Maybe, but no pain, no gain. And I could live with this Reds lineup shaping up for 2009:

1 Bruce RF
2 EE 3B or 1B
3 Hamilton CF/LF
4 Crede 3B or 1B
5 Phillips 2B
6 Votto LF/1B
7 Gonzo or ? SS
8 Ross or ? C

Rotation:

Harang
Bailey
Arroyo
Gonzalez
Cueto or Belisle

[M2]

Originally Posted by Benihana

I'm sorry but I really don't understand the appeal of the Rios trade.

Because I think Rios is going to be one of the five or ten best players in MLB over the next five years.

[Benihana]

Originally Posted by M2

Because I think Rios is going to be one of the five or ten best players in MLB over the next five years. He might already be there.

I don't neccessarily think you're wrong, but Hamilton could most certainly get there also. And while I know a bird in the hand... is it really worth giving up a very effective and cheap starting SS as well as the organization's #1 pitching prospect just to get something you may already have?

Not to mention cheaper, younger, and signed for longer...

[Always Red]

Originally Posted by Guacarock

We get the monster RH bat we've been seeking for the middle of the order. We probably get him at a discount, seeing as how he's coming off a major surgery and didn't do much in 2007.

Joe Crede is a monster bat?

If Adam Dunn posted the numbers Joe Crede has throughout his career, they've had tar and feathered him already.

Plus, as you noted, Crede has just had back surgery, which is definitely going to mess with a power swing.

I'd say no thanks to Joe Crede.

[M2]

Originally Posted by Benihana

I don't neccessarily think you're wrong, but Hamilton could most certainly get there also. And while I know a bird in the hand... is it really worth giving up a very effective and cheap starting SS as well as the organization's #1 pitching prospect just to get something you may already have?

Not to mention cheaper, younger, and signed for longer...

Yep, totally worth it as far as I'm concerned. Do it in a heartbeat. Sure stud RF and an advanced catching prospect for a maybe stud RF, an aging SS and a 21-year-old pitcher? You'd have to pinch me.

Though I didn't start the thread to talk about my off-the-wall proposal, I started it to see how creative people could get on trade proposals.