Reds one of two teams pursuing Gerald Laird

[RedlegJake]

Originally Posted by corkedbat

I'd want Teagarden or Ramierez for Homer

Absolutely. Laird would only get an A ball pitcher, imo, and he wouldn't be named Lotzkar.

[OnBaseMachine]

Rosenthal talked to one club official who finds a 50% chance of Gerald Laird or Jarrod Saltalamacchia being traded before the deadline. The Rangers want young pitching.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Come on Walt, offer up Homer Bailey and a lesser prospect for Salty. That would take care of the catching situation for the next five years.

[Raisor]

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

Rosenthal talked to one club official who finds a 50% chance of Gerald Laird or Jarrod Saltalamacchia being traded before the deadline. The Rangers want young pitching.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Come on Walt, offer up Homer Bailey and a lesser prospect for Salty. That would take care of the catching situation for the next five years.

yep, I'd do that too.

[HokieRed]

Raisor,
I'd be very surprised if WJ hasn't made precisely that offer. Problem is getting the Rangers to believe Homer is worth it.

[Falls City Beer]

Salty's a terrible catcher. I wouldn't mind giving them Bailey and Votto for Salty and AA or higher bullpen arm, and play Salty at first base.

[OnBaseMachine]

Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

Salty's a terrible catcher. I wouldn't mind giving them Bailey and Votto for Salty, and play Salty at first base.

Salty's bat doesn't project as well at first base. And no thanks on trading Votto for him as that would be a step down. I'd trade Homer and a lesser prospect for him but not Votto.

[Jpup]

Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

Salty's a terrible catcher. I wouldn't mind giving them Bailey and Votto for Salty and AA or higher bullpen arm, and play Salty at first base.

Votto? Votto is better than Salty by himself.

[Falls City Beer]

Originally Posted by Jpup

Votto? Votto is better than Salty by himself.

I thought he projected better with the bat. Never mind. I have no interest in Salty--just looked at his numbers. Can't catch; can't hit either.

Heck, just send the Rockies a bullpen arm for Torrealba and be done with it. At least we'd have great defense if nothing else.

[Johnny Footstool]

If Saltalamacchia can catch well enough to stay behind the plate, he'll be one of the best hitting catchers in the NL. He showed good patience in the minors, and his power stroke is developing.

Teagarden is the one to target, but he's still at least two years away from being a productive major leaguer.

[VR]

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

I'll take Volquez over an outfielder who is an average player at best away from home.

You'd better take out EV's home splits then too?

Can't hit lefties. Check
Can't play center. Check.
Injury Prone. Check.

and now...
can't hit on the road.

The good thing is that by a year from now it will be, "can't hit loogies when behind in the count in Comiskey Park in May"

[OnBaseMachine]

Originally Posted by VR

You'd better take out EV's home splits then too?

Can't hit lefties. Check
Can't play center. Check.
Injury Prone. Check.

and now...
can't hit on the road.

The good thing is that by a year from now it will be, "can't hit loogies when behind in the count in Comiskey Park in May"

Volquez has pitched well at home and on the road.

I'm a big fan of Josh Hamilton, I think he's a remarkable story but I also think he's starting to become a bit overrated. People talk about him like he's the best player in the game...he's not, heck, he's not even the best or even second best player on the Rangers IMO, as that belongs to Ian Kinsler and Milton Bradley. Our own Adam Dunn is OPSing 25 points higher than Hamilton despite not having as many good hitters around him as Hamilton does. Josh is an awesome player but I'd take Volquez over Hamilton any day of the week.

[RedsManRick]

Hamilton has been very good, no doubt. But normalize his RBI opportunities and he's just another very good player. If he had 75 RBI, nobody would be talking him up as the best player in the league. Pat Burrell has easily been a better player than Hamilton, and he didn't even make the all-star team. Ian Kinsler has been more productive than Hamilton, as has Milton Bradley, when he's played. PA for PA, Hamilton is the 3rd best batter on his own team -- and yet Hamilton is being called the front runner for MVP.

It's ironic, but for all the complaining conventional types do about stat-heads ruining the game, the inane focus on "real stats" like batting average and RBI really detracts from our ability to appreciate the contributions of players in proper proportion.

[osuceltic]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

Hamilton has been very good, no doubt. But normalize his RBI opportunities and he's just another very good player. If he had 75 RBI, nobody would be talking him up as the best player in the league. Pat Burrell has easily been a better player than Hamilton, and he didn't even make the all-star team. Ian Kinsler has been more productive than Hamilton, as has Milton Bradley, when he's played. PA for PA, Hamilton is the 3rd best batter on his own team -- and yet Hamilton is being called the front runner for MVP.

It's ironic, but for all the complaining conventional types do about stat-heads ruining the game, the inane focus on "real stats" like batting average and RBI really detracts from our ability to appreciate the contributions of players in proper proportion.

How about the inane focus on defense? Because if you can watch Pat Burrell and Josh Hamilton play the game and conclude Burrell is the better player, then I'd say you're watching a different game. Better hitter? Maybe, although it's arguable. More statistically favorable offensive player? Burrell's got him there.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

Hamilton has been very good, no doubt. But normalize his RBI opportunities and he's just another very good player. If he had 75 RBI, nobody would be talking him up as the best player in the league. Pat Burrell has easily been a better player than Hamilton, and he didn't even make the all-star team. Ian Kinsler has been more productive than Hamilton, as has Milton Bradley, when he's played. PA for PA, Hamilton is the 3rd best batter on his own team -- and yet Hamilton is being called the front runner for MVP.

It's ironic, but for all the complaining conventional types do about stat-heads ruining the game, the inane focus on "real stats" like batting average and RBI really detracts from our ability to appreciate the contributions of players in proper proportion.

Perhaps a compelling case can be made for Burrell having a better season at the plate thus far but it's difficult to argue that Burrell is a better player IMHO.

[M2]

I like Laird and think he'd probably give the Reds a quality primary backstop for the next couple of years (his OB and SLG percentages this season reflect the kind of work he can do, IMO), provided he can stay healthy. That last one is a major concern because he's never healthy for long.