1. Nate McLouth
2. Matt Kemp
3. Andre Ethier
4. Jayson Werth
5. Shin-Soo Choo
6. Franklin Gutierrez
7. Jeremy Hermida
8. David DeJesus
9. Austin Kearns
10. Delmon Young

Well, 1-3 are probably improbable bets, as it would cost a wonderful arm (Phil Hughes) and some speedy legs (Austin Jackson) to nab them (or maybe even a "nonchalant" Cano). Overpaying would be an effective tactic, however, that wouldn't be optimal, of course, and with Brian Cashman looking to defend his honor and his legacy, I wouldn't expect any dumb trades (at least not yet).

Numbers 4-7 were recommended by Joel Sherman and the NY Post, so, as with all sources, you'd like a foundation to build these suggestions upon and, right now, there hasn't been any information to really justify Sherman's picks. Werth is an anomaly who probably won't get dealt while Jeremy Hermida will probably be up for grabs (he is on the Marlins, after all). Gutierrez isn't worth it (he can't hit righties) and Choo is solid. Therefore, I doubt the Indians would move him, as an outfield that features Choo, Ben Francisco and Grady Sizemore would be pretty nasty.

8-10 are my guys, although only 2 of them---DeJesus and Kearns---seem like valid options. Austin Kearns is coming off of an injury plagued season in Washington and is owed $8 million in 2009. He has a $10 million option in 2010 and a $1 million buyout. He is SO talented, flashing glimpses of that talent in 2002 and 2006, yet he just hasn't been able to put it all together as he inches towards 30 (he's 28). His 2007 season was largely disappointing but he did manage to hit .301/.378/.454 on the road, with his overall numbers hindered due to poor home hitting (.228/.330/.365). Maybe a change of scenery could help him, especially with the Nationals having a glut of outfielders. Ever since he was traded to Washington, his progression hasn't gone as well as it should have.

I've stated the case for David DeJesus before, noting his age, affordable price, talent, and fine 2008 season. The final player, number 10---Delmon Young---was thrown in for the hell of it after recently being named as a potential trade candidate. He is a huge talent with innate, raw ability, however, the Twins are looking for young infield help (SS, 3B) and the Yankees aren't too strong in that particular area (outside of Cano).

So, there you have it. Rumormongering at its best.

The Yanks have roughly $88 million in salary potentially vanishing, and Yankees officials already are building toward a consensus how to use those dollars. Based on multiple interviews the initial plan looks like this:

1. Sign at least one and, preferably two, starters from among free agents CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe.

2. Re-sign either Mike Mussina or Andy Pettitte.

3. With the rotation deepened by free agency, use pitching prospects in particular to obtain a prime-age, high-ceiling player at first or in the outfield. Then use minor trades or free agency to address other areas.

First, before I briefly discuss this plan, I must note that Sherman's article is bursting from the seams with valid insights and interesting thoughts. In fact, I'll be discussing it throughout the day in order to touch on every point (he talks about a lot), so be sure to check out the entire thing, as it will serve as an important prologue to ensuing posts.

Now, about the plan--it looks good and it makes sense. When there are proven pitchers available on the free agent market, one has to consider them, especially after injuries and ineffectiveness dominated our starting line. In that regard, signing 2 of Burnett, CC and Lowe, again, makes sense. Adding to that depth by resigning Pettitte or Mussina would also be a proactive move and I doubt that anyone would argue with that notion. Now, the final stage of the plan is where things get tricky.

Sherman unpacks his statement throughout the article:

The Yanks still envision Hughes blossoming as a high-end starter. But for an attractive first baseman, center fielder or right fielder, the Yanks would consider moving any youngster not named Chamberlain. What will make someone attractive to the Yanks: 1) under 30; 2) athletic and sound defensively; 3) controllable into the future; 4) a well-rounded offensive game that preferably includes plate patience.

It has been assumed the Yanks will look specifically for a center fielder. But they anticipate limited options, having learned already that, for example, Pittsburgh's Nate McLouth will be near impossible to land. So they would consider having Johnny Damon as the primary center fielder with Brett Gardner and/or Melky Cabrera around to play often enough to keep Damon's legs fresh.

That allows another year to evaluate if Gardner is for real and/or if Cabrera can rebound from a poor season, while also determining if top prospect Austin Jackson at Triple-A is ready for 2010.

The Dodgers' Andre Ethier, Philadelphia's Jayson Werth, and Cleveland's Shin-Soo Choo and Franklin Gutierrez all fit the desired mode. So might Florida's Jeremy Hermida, a talented player who has yet to fulfil expectations. The willingness of the Yanks to include Hughes and/or Robinson Cano in conjunction with a surplus reliever or two should open many doors.

Currently, the only way the Yanks intend to chase a major positional free agent such as Manny Ramirez or Mark Teixeira is if they are shut out on pitching and have to consider building in a different way and/or the dismal economy drives down prices (which is possible).

There's a lot going on here, so I'll start off with who the Yankees would trade in order to acquire a bat (assuming that this is a legitimate claim). I don't think the Yankees would trade Phil Hughes, even if his standing in the organization has been somewhat tarnished. However, judging from what has happened over the course of the season and the team's current needs, I think Ian Kennedy is as good as gone. He'll get dealt, although his value, like Hughes', isn't as high as it once was so he would obviously serve as a part of a package of young talent. I also don't think that Cano will be traded. They would've only traded him for a pitcher, I mean, what's the point of trading one young talent (a premium position talent) for another (that's not necessarily a premium position)?

Sherman goes on to name a few players that fit the description he outlined, earlier and all of his ideas are outfielders. They're all good, in theory, but when you dig deep enough you would see that Andre Ethier is pretty much untouchable, Franklin Gutierrez can't hit righties, Jeremy Hermida can't keep healthy long enough to play a full season, and Jayson Werth and Shin-Soo Choo are two unknown unknowns that the Yankees simply don't have the courage to actually trade for (unestablished players). I must say, though, that Shin-Soo Choo would entice me, as he has some serious skills. Based on Sherman's list, it seems like he's guessing that any major trades will address the outfield (the impending losses of Damon and Matsui are clearly foregrounded here). Maybe he thinks that the Yankees are going to move Posada to first relatively soon.

Either way, if the Yankees were going to make a trade, I would see them pursuing a first baseman. This becomes difficult, however, since the Yankees are looking for someone specific (under 30, athletic, controllable, offensive threat and patient). In terms of availability, Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder come to mind, but don't fit the mold presented by Sherman (not to a tee). Also, James Loney, another name that is thrown around occasionally, isn't a proven hitter yet and doesn't warrant first base play in the AL East. Could Joey Votto be available? I'm sure the Yankees will check, but I think the Yankees will get "shut out", a possibility pondered by Sherman, and won't acquire a first baseman via trade. If this is the case, the funny thing is that Mark Teixeira fits the outline perfectly. Although the Yankees are trying to save money for pitching purposes, I don't think they'll back out of the Teixeira talks.

Sherman briefly talks about pursuing a platoon at first base, if all else fails. He refers to Doug Mientkiewicz and Kevin Millar as the possible platoon-mates, which I'm sure will NOT happen. I mean, if they were that strapped, why not just bring Giambi back for another year?

I'll continue with more thoughts, later in the day.

Catchers (3): Jason Varitek, Kevin Cash, David Ross

Infielders (5): Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jed Lowrie, Mark Kotsay, Alex Cora

Outfielders (4): J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jason Bay, Coco Crisp

Starters (4): Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield

Relievers (7): Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Justin Masterson, Manny Delcarmen, Javier Lopez, Mike Timlin, Paul Byrd

Three catchers is slightly risky, considering the depleted infield/outfield depth, but having Wakefield on the roster means Cash must be there. Lowrie can play over at third in the case of an injury to Kotsay or Youkilis, and in a real pinch, Cash can play at third. Kotsay is, of course, a superb outfielder too, in case we need someone out there.

• The suicide squeeze cost Los Angeles game 4. They had seized the momentum, and had speedy Reggie Willits on third base with one out. That's almost a guaranteed run, yet they tried this squeeze bunt anyway. The demoralized fans went wild on this one, and it gave the Sox back their confidence. Scioscia totally overthought this one. I don't think it's a fireable offense, but it was a bad, bad call.
• The Red Sox defense was simply awesome in this one, while the Angels' seemed uninspired. Mark Kotsay made an incredible back-handed, running grab on a flare over first base and a great sliding grab in foul territory for another key out, making use of all of his outfielder skills; Dustin Pedroia had a great barehanded grab to foil a rally. On the flip side, Erick Aybar missed a fieldable grounder at short, Chone Figgins made a throwing error to second base and Willits dove headlong at a ball which he should have stopped for a single, that went for a double. Jason Bay would go on to score the game-winner from second base.
• Justin Masterson became tentative after coming into the game. Even this steely rookie's nerves were shaken at the thought of this being the ALDS clincher. His stride, arm speed and mechanics weren't very aggressive a few pitches in, and it showed in the results. He did make a great pitch to Vladimir Guerrero, however, which should be noted.
• Jed Lowrie hung in there and eked out the walkoff single, but Lester and Bay should get the credit for this victory.

A few points to take away from this Series:

Jon Lester was not just good, but awesome. One unearned run in this series, and it wasn't just luck. He's regained all of his weight and strength back, and he is pounding that fastball in there at 95-96 mph with regularity. How many lefties can you name who can do that and mix in a sharp 76 mph curve and good changeup? Everyone says, oh, the Angels didn't hit. Well, Lester was the biggest reason why they couldn't.

Having J.D. Drew play also provided a huge boost offensively and defensively for us. I say this because  with Mike Lowell being deactivated, Kevin Youkilis will continue play at third, and first base will be manned by some combination of Mark Kotsay and Sean Casey. If Drew is not healthy, that leaves us very thin on reserves. Rosterwise, the Sox would have picked up an extra reliever anyway for this 7-game series, but I'd rather have Lowell on the roster than Gil Velazquez (no offense).

I like what I saw from the bullpen this series. They will be well-rested and ready to go against the Rays, and we'll need them. The Sox made the plays when it counted, but this series was much closer than it looked. I suspect with Lowell out that the ALCS will also be REALLY close and come down to pitching and defense. Whichever team executes to their best ability will come out on top. Preview to come soon!

BTW, in case you missed it, another hilarious quote from Pedey.

Rich Lederer and Patrick Sullivan talk Boston-Los Angeles ALDS at Baseball Analysts.

Another article on key players and matchups over at Baseball Digest Daily Blog.

David Pinto looks at how this season's games between the two clubs turned out.

If you're looking for reasons to be optimistic as a Red Sox fan, there are a few over at The Hardball Times.

Baseball Think Factory's got a good summary paragraph or two.

As for my thoughts: If we had a healthy Sox team, I'd say we win in 4. You can't ignore the best run differential in baseball (by a big margin). But there are other factors. The latest I have heard is that J.D. Drew feels "100% ready" to go, while Mike Lowell can hit but is still hobbling a bit in the field. Add in Josh Beckett's oblique strain and pitching just once in the 5-game series, and suddenly things aren't so clear any more. The health of these three is critical to the outcome of this series.

Make no mistake, these are two very good teams and pretty evenly matched. Yes, I know the Halos owned the season series, and the Sox have owned the recent postseason historically, but I fully expect it will go the full 5 games this time around. As it so often does in October, I believe this series will come down to who pitches better and plays defense better.

Rotation

Ervin Santana is the best single pitcher in this series (this season), edging out Jon Lester. However, Lester is matched up against John Lackey, not Santana. A healthy Beckett is better than Lackey, but I will call them even because of the oblique strain. That will take some velocity off, and likely force Beckett to go to his secondary pitches more. Daisuke Matsuzaka, for all his wildness, is a good deal better than Joe Saunders, who benefited from a very low .266 BABIP against this season. I know Dice-K's BABIP against is .258, but his stuff is better, and he's more proven. Saunder's true ERA should be something closer to 4.46, while Matsuzaka's is more like 4.17. If Beckett can get through this strain, and if Dice-K delivers, the Sox have a great shot at taking this ALDS.

Bullpen

The Angels have an impressive collection of talent here in Francisco Rodriguez, Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo. I am not impressed by at all by Darren Oliver, despite his career year. You might give the Halos the edge here, but they are overrated. Remember that they play in a pitcher-friendly home park, plus there are cracks in this bullpen. Rodriguez is walk prone, and has proved vulnerable against Boston lately. Arredondo is a rookie, and we'll see how he responds to the pressure of October. The Sox answer with Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Justin Masterson and Manny Delcarmen. I don't worry about Paps at all; he's gotten knocked about lately because he was relying on his fastball and it was publicized. That was primarily to save his arm for the playoffs. Now that we're in October, you're gonna see more slutters and chageups from him, plus a harder fastball. I guarantee it. I put Javier Lopez in the same class as Oliver. The slightest of edges to the Angels.

Lineups

The Sox would have the clear advantage here if not for injuries. People are talking about Big Papi's down year and Manny Ramirez being gone, but they forget that even with all the injuries, this lineup was 2nd in the AL in runs, and 3rd in all of baseball. And that wasn't all before the trade, either. They were 2nd overall in August and 7th in September (tied with the Angels without both Drew AND Lowell). Don't underestimate this lineup, and remember that they can match up with the Angels' speed. I'd say the Sox have improved a lot on the bases by replacing Manny with Jason Bay. The Sox have a deeper bench as well, so that helps lessen the impact if Lowell and/or Drew can't go. Slight edge to the Sox here.

In 2009, who would you like to see in CF?

If the Yankees plug in Brett Gardner, the OF would shape up to be Gardner in center, Damon in left and Nady in right. That's a fairly solid defensive configuration. Of course, this arrangement is contingent upon the notion that Melky Cabrera will not be a starter next year and will likely make the team, but as a defensive replacement, off the bench (our 4th outfielder).

The second configuration could skimp on the defense, allowing for more offense. The Yankees could plug Damon into center and then figure things out from there. They could sign Manny Ramirez to a 3 or 4-year deal and let him roam RF (move Nady to LF), or they could try Matsui in the OF and hope that he doesn't die. This would open up the DH hole, allowing them to add another bopper.

Why go the offensive route when the pitching is more important, you ask? Well, say the Yanks fail to lure CC Sabathia or sign AJ Burnett (Burnett is still a huge drop off from CC). They would have to "settle" for Derek Lowe and maybe Jon Garland (unless they try to trade). I figure they would probably add Joba into the rotation as well, since the 4 starters (Wang, Lowe, Pettitte, Garland) can be counted on to eat innings, however, the rotation itself isn't as strong as it could've been with a Sabathia or a Burnett. You're essentially adding offense to offset the output expected from your pitchers. It's a strong rotation but it's not lights out, therefore more hitting would make some sense and it would allow the Yankees to take Joba out of games earlier (with a lead) and limiting his workload (it'd help Jon Garland too).

What do you think? Is the first option best or is the second option best? Or, do we simply have to wait and see because the pitching will decide how the story is told?

He attributes his extended slump to overanalysis and too much thinking at the plate; some minor adjustments plus a more relaxed attitude at the dish has helped him to regain his confidence. With the playoffs right around the corner, the Red Sox will need their sparkplug to be firing on all cylinders to beat some tough squads.

Should the Rays win and face the White Sox in the ALDS, I think their road to the World Series would be a lot easier than if they fall behind Boston. We want our Sox to play Chicago in round 1, not the Angels. But that's starting to look like a certainty.

Here's how I see the roster shaking out for the ALDS:

Infielders (5): Jason Varitek, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jed Lowrie, Mike Lowell

Outfielders (4): J.D. Drew/Coco Crisp (depending on health), Mark Kotsay, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jason Bay

Bench (5): Kevin Cash, Sean Casey, Alex Cora, Crisp/Jonathan Van Every, Julio Lugo/Dave Ross/Chris Carter

Starters (4): Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield

Relievers (7): Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Justin Masterson, Manny Delcarmen, David Aardsma, Javier Lopez, Mike Timlin

Lowell will be shut down for a few days to rest that bad hip, and Youkilis will play at third in his absence. A lot will depend on the health of Lowell and Drew. It looks like Lowell will be on the roster regardless, but Drew is a big question mark. Should he not be ready, that leaves the outfield reserves being Crisp and Van Every.

For the five game series, you only need three starters, with Wake being the long man/emergency guy. That leaves your bullpen with seven slots. Some have called for Paul Byrd to join the bullpen, but I just can't see the Sox leaving Timlin off the roster for this new acquisition. He's still able to get ground balls and has playoff experience out of the pen. If one of the relievers has pain, though, I fully expect him to have a spot, as Byrd throws strikes.

If Lugo is healthy, I can see the Sox giving him the last bench spot as a reserve infielder/pinch runner. If not, it might be valuable to have Ross or Carter to provide pop off the bench.

Bartolo Colon is not a factor, since he left for the Dominican after finding out he would not land a postseason starting role. The team has suspended him without pay, which means they could still bring him back if he suddenly agrees to take a bullpen role and return. Clay Buchholz is also not a factor, as he will play in the Arizona Fall League.

I think we have a very good shot to make it past the Angels, who have been playing above their heads this season. But that series could take a lot out of our guys, making the ALCS (assuming it's the Rays) a tough matchup. It's two teams built on pitching and defense, both with outstanding home records, and they will have the home field advantage. To me, they don't look like the Indians and Rockies of last season, who wilted under the bright playoff lights. We'll just have to see.

Friday will be a big day for Boston, as they expect to get Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and Sean Casey back. Let's hope they are all healthy down the stretch, so that we can go get that AL East title.

Like my 1st ICT, I spent 80% of my time waiting, waiting, and more waiting in this ICT. Please dun ask me why and what are we waiting for ‘cos neither do I know the reasons behind the tons of waiting lo. Came to think, all the officers and their planning were really very inefficient. Hai~ no choice, I also cannot do or say much things either...So, ‘JUST FOLLOW LAW' lo.

During this ICT, I finally get to drive my Bronco vehicle le. Also, get to go for a 3D2N outfield exercise. We went to the area D @ Sungei Gedong Camp for our battalion exercise (small scale). Actually for this outfield exercise, I didn't really do a lot of preparation b4 hand hence undergo a bit of suffering during the outfield e.g. kana a lot of mosquito bites ‘cos I forgot to bring insect repellent.

All in all, this ICT was another fun & joyful get-together session with all my NS buddies. Less away the 3D2N of ‘torturing' in the outfield, the rest of the time was rather enjoyable. In actual fact, I spent 70% of my time relaxing in the camp. Besides that, I also managed to earn an allowance of S$256 for this ICT. Not bad la, for an unemployed like me.

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P/S: This blog entry was 1st published on 03 July 2008 @ 12:50 AM. Reposted on 26 August 2008.

That last part might be a bit inaccurate, but I've been out of there for almost a year now, and the mental images and vignettes warehoused during my term are getting hazy and disjointed.  Add to that all the work I have done to actively misremember the unfortunately large part my former employer played in my former life, and my ability to recall many of the great times had while not slaving over a hot keyboard in seizure-inducing florescent lights has been severely compromised.

Luckily, a few things from the Mpls Era have stayed with me, such as:

1. How, when driving over the Hennepin Ave bridge to St. Anthony Main in the early evening, the orangish glow from the setting sun and the Steely Dan blasting from the car stereo made me look 15% more attractive than I actually am
2. That time I caught a Police concert and a Prince concert in the same week
3. Memorial Day of 2007, which was spent cruising around Like Minnetonka at the the helm of a pontoon boat, blasting "Play Deep" by The Outfield.

But the main thing about Minneapolis that I will surely never forget is the heavenly taste of Hamm's, most likely the greatest beer I have, or will ever, drink in my entire life.

I came across Hamm's during my first visit to a Minnesotan liquor store.  Now, I am pretty openminded and easygoing when it comes to the beer that I drink, which some may find surprising considering how much of a fucking dick I tend to be when the conversation drifts to something like musical tastes or the superiority of a city's sports teams.

But I'm actually a simple man, really.  I like my beer how I like my women: domestic and regular bodied.  I don't mind drinking out of cans, and for a variety of reasons, I don't really see the point of buying anything but swill for use in the privacy of your own home; as many cans of cheap, utilitarian, multitasking swill as you can fit in the designated beer section of your fridge.

When I have guests over, I don't have to worry about hiding the good beer or making them wonder what they are "allowed to take" if they go into the fridge.  You'll have what I'm having, friend:  A 12 ounce can of refreshing, easy finishing American Bronson.  It is what I drink after work.  It is what I drink with dinner.  It is what I drink during a game of caps.  And, here in New Orleans, it is what I drink on my way to the bar.

But back to that fateful day up north.  I cruised down Lyndale Ave and wandered into the first liquor store I saw, looking for nothing in particular.  I figured Old Style (my former beer of choice) would not likely be available outside the greater Chicagoland area, so I was content on walking out with a case of High Life or something similar.

Then, the lovely baby blue hue of the row of Hamm's 30 packs caught my eye.  I gladly forked over the $14.17 asking price and headed back home.  I am not sure what it was that got me hooked.  Maybe it was the beauty of the can or the slightly-higher-than-average alcohol content.  Maybe I felt honored to be drinking a legacy brand that had somehow not yet, to my knowledge, been ironically featured as the special at some club's "80's Night."

It was probably the fact that, along with Charles Shaw Shiraz, it sired all my booze-soaked adventures in the Twin Cities, adventures that included forming a cover band, making late night trips to White Castle, and meeting the love of my life.

Thanks for the memories, Hamm's.

Ramirez is certainly being very aggressive at the plate, swinging at 39.34% of balls outside of the zone and 55.96% overall. The amazing thing is, it's working and his overall contact rate has barely changed. The batted ball data make it look like a mixture of well-hit balls and luck (.480 BABIP, 44.4% HR/FB ratio), but with Manny, you just never know. What if he had put it all behind him and just played baseball, you know, the way he's supposed to?

Having an abundance of outfielders already in Jason Bay, J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury and Coco Crisp, where would he play? There is speculation that we did it just to keep him from another contender (Tampa Bay?). But then it hit me. The Sox could be more worried about Papi's wrist than they're letting on. With it clicking once again, one bad swing could put a serious dent in the career of David Ortiz. If this claim goes through, or if a trade is made, the Sox might DL Ortiz and hit Giles at DH, giving Papi another month off. Ortiz could return in September after the rosters expand, and ramp it up right before the playoffs. Giels would also provide good insurance in case one of our corner outfielders goes down with an injury.

Giles has $2.7M remaining on his contract, but according to waiver rules any team with a record worse than Boston has priority on a claim. He also has a no-trade clause regarding the Red Sox in his contract, so he could block any trade or ask for something in order to waive that clause in his contract.

The biggest fantasy fad heading into this season was the young outfielder. The 25-something hitter that promised five-tool production and fantasy titles. Fantasy baseballers everywhere were spouting off how these guys would hit .330 with 30 homers and and 100 RBI. There was so much overstated hype, it brought out this drivel from Newspaperman.

Yes, even at TheBaseballStar"s" we were susceptible to all the fantasy baseball rage. In our now infamous draft advice entries, our experts had three such players in our top 10 outfielder class.

While the post was an epic display of knowledge, there names can always be put to the test ... so let's do it.

No. 8: Carl Crawford (quote is from our rankings)

Carl Crawford: Ugh. Overrated. But he will provide 185 hits and be a killer in steals. Just don't expect 25 homers. Or 100 RBI. Or 100 runs from everyone's favorite 5-tool player.

Now it is well, well documented that The Jon has never liked Crawford. This guy does it every year. Every year, 90 percent of fantasy baseballers buy this guy's crap. His one saving grace is his steals. Umm, he is 16th in the league with 25. Your first round pick, folks.
Grade: F

No. 9: Curtis Granderson

Curtis Granderson: Has the most hype of any outfielder coming into the draft due to his whole only one of three player thing of 20 homers, 20 doubles, 20 steals, 20 triples 20 times Newspaperman has kissed his baseball card thing. The best candidate out of all the young outfielders to be a top 5 outfielder next season. Get in on the ground floor and slot him as your No. 2 outfielder.

Granderson started the season wrong by getting hurt. It has also been revealed that he can't hit lefties. Not good. He started off slow, but has been on a good stretch after leading up and after the All-Star break. In limited action he is in the top 20 in runs and has had opportune power with 13 homers. What has hurt him is his lack of steals — 8.
Grade: C+

No. 10 Alex Rios

Alex Rios: Fitting that he is here after Granderson. Rios has better power potential and is really starting to fit in his role as the main hitter on the Blue Jays. If Vernon Wells can be the hitter of the past, it will only increase Rios’ numbers. All crazy staph infections aside, Rios posted 191 hits . The breakout season could be upon us folks.

Although he has 27 steals, Rios' power production has been lacking. He also hasn't been collecting hits, and won't reach his 191 hits of last season. A slow start limited him to bench duty on fantasy teams. He hasn't had that hot stretch that has made him valuable in the past.
Grade: D

No. 15: Nick Markakis

Markakis: Really deserves to be behind Granderson and Rios (who he earily shares equal stats with: 191 hits, 23 to 24 homers but more RBI). Hey, we messed up. Don’t do the same, although lack of protection is a concern.

This was a mistake then and it is now. He is arguably had the best year so far in the overhyped machine. He is hitting at a .299 clip with 15 homers, 61 RBI and 10 steals. Yes, lack of protection was and is a concern. If he had hitters around him, these numbers would be better.
Grade: B-

No. 16: Hunter Pence

Pence: Wrist injury really bogged down Pence. Before he went down, he showed flashes of carrying offenses and looks to be the best gap hitter in his age group (24).

Somewhere, Pence forgot he was a contact hitter. He is an average outfielder without that knowledge hovering around the .270s and 14 homer mark. Yeah, he was injured this season, but with that park and lineup ... and hitting ability, he should be better.
Grade: D

No. 18: Corey Hart

Corey Hart: Tons of hype, but is he fluke? It’s 50/50, but worth a gamble. His future could be the same as Torii above. (the guy always seems to get 20-plus homers and 80-90 RBI with 10-15 steals thrown in. Is a perfect No. 3 outfielder or utility spot guy.)

If Hart wasn't in the midst of a 4-for-23 slump, his numbers could be better than the .284 average, 16 homer, 66 RBI and 18 steals. So The Jon was right once again. He is another Torii Hunter but with speed. He is a No. 3 outfielder ... but has some to be desired. He is not the 30/30 man rabid owners were predicting, but there is still a month and a half left, you know if he ever gets out of the slump in a crowded Brewers outfield
Grade: B-

So where does that leave us?

Well, these guys need a couple of more seasons before they can replace the elite outfielders ... but what is this? Ryan Braun, Josh Hamilton, Grady Sizemore and Jason Bay have replaced all of these guys.

Still The Jon will give all the overhyped-loving fantasy owners this: Crawford, Granderson, Rios and co. could become elite, The Jon will give ... whoops, sorry Gerard ...

A couple of scouting reports on Bay by an NL scout and a GM.

As befits him, Mike Lowell has nothing bad to say about his departed teammate. Theo had some comments as well.

Bay will bat fifth tonight, with Lowell hitting cleanup. Over his career, Bay has hit the best from that slot, plus starting in the 3 or 4 slot is a lot of pressure for his first game.

The Red Sox paid a very high price to lose Ramirez; not only did they ship him along with $7M to cover the rest of his 2008, but they also chipped in Brandon Moss and Craig Hansen to make this deal happen. Talk about motivated sellers. And yet in a way, the players who are left behind are turning silent cartwheels too, because the distraction is finally gone. They can get back to playing and enjoying baseball.

Bay will slide into the 3rd slot and probably give 75-90% of what the Sox could have gotten from Manny these last two months, and he has plus range in left. He will get to many balls that might otherwise fall, though he's had a lot fewer assists this season and been rated below average recently by some metrics. And while I am sad to see Moss and Hansen go, the Sox won't miss them terribly in the big picture, since they do have Bobby Kielty, Chris Carter and Bryce Cox, who fill somewhat similar roles. Even the $7M payment will be more than made up for next year, when Bay earns just $7.5M for the whole season. So even though they paid a lot, it won't really cost them that much.

The Dodgers gained the big bat they thought they were getting in Andruw Jones this year. Manny could make all the difference in the NL West pennant race. They gave up top 3B prospect Andy LaRoche, who has struggled with injuries this year (and was supplanted by Blake DeWitt), as well as minor league pitcher Bryan Morris. That price tag doesn't seem so bad, however, if you consider that they will certainly garner two compensatory picks when Ramirez leaves this offseason.

The Pirates are the real winners in this deal, if you ask me. Bay is a good player and an All-Star, but even at age 29 his knees are not guaranteed for long. He's not a guy you want to sign long-term. Instead of him, they get a top 3B prospect in LaRoche, a potential starting OF in Moss and two young pitchers. Hansen could help them now in the bullpen, while Morris could eventually start. Considering the other deadline deals this year, this is a very good haul for someone like Bay. Props to Huntington and his team for seeing an opportunity and pulling this off.

Boston: OF Jason Bay and LHP John Grabow
Florida: OF Manny Ramirez, cash and a prospect from Boston
Pittsburgh: OF Jeremy Hermida and some prospects from Florida and Boston

This is the first scenario that seems to make sense to me, as Bay is a far more polished hitter than Hermida at this point, and a better substitute for Ramirez. Joe Frisaro at MLB.com echoes Carroll's sentiments, lending it some further credence. I think this could work out for all teams involved.

However, a HUGE warning flag is that all of these players were in their lineups tonight. Rather, 1B Mike Jacobs was pulled from the Marlins lineup tonight. If the deal were truly close, they should all have sat. So I say that this has one chance in three or four of happening by the 4PM deadline tomorrow.

UPDATE: Pinch me. Will Carroll reports that the three teams have reached an agreement and contacted the Commissioner's Office about it. The last (and not trivial) matter is to decide what prospects swap sides and get all the paperwork done by 4PM. This deal could still fall through, but it's starting to look like it's hasta la vista, Manny.

For a replacement outfielder, my gut reaction was to think of Josh Willingham, who has been kind of rotting on the Marlins' bench while the younger guys have gotten playing time. He's a solid right-handed hitter who knows how to get on base and has some decent pop. Ken Rosenthal also speculated on him recently, unbeknownst to me.

In an article last night, Baseball Prospectus dropped the names Jeremy Hermida and Jeff Allison (a Peabody native) last night as being mentioned. If indeed the Sox are willing to foot the $7M bill for Manny, that could make some sense. Hermida is a young outfielder with a one of the sweetest left-handed swings in the Majors. He is athletic, smart, plays good defense and has a pretty good arm. He's exactly the type of balanced player Theo dreams about at night, and I'd be thrilled to get him here. Both Hermida and Williingham are also just entering his arbitrationbn years, meaning they could fill the left field position for a while for us. That's all great.

The only problem is this: Swapping out Manny for either of those guys is good for team chemistry, but it simply makes the team worse. Just ask any pitcher who they would rather face, and you'll see what I mean. It'd be great to get Allison here, but he's at high-A now; he's not gonna help us this year. A contending team like Boston should not take a step backwards at the deadline. So the question is, is it that important to remove Ramirez from the clubhouse, that our offense should take a significant hit? The only way it makes sense to me is if we also significantly bolster our bullpen, and I don't see anyone on the Marlins who could do that, short of Kevin Gregg, their closer. Let's see what the front office decides.

Pause. Jaws drop. Did he just say he'd trade Manny Ramirez? Some have argued that Ramirez is doing all this to get out of town. But if he wants to be traded where he wants to go and get paid what he wants to get paid, this is not the way to do it. This is also not the way to get the Sox to sign him for two more years and $40M. If his goal is to stay in Boston, Ramirez already has the right to veto any trade, so this basically amounts to him being a mental midget and an emotional toddler.

For what it's worth, Manny has said he's open to a trade. With all the PR fallout, is there anyone who'd want him?

• The Mets. They've been looking for a replacement for Moises Alou for a while now, but haven't been able to land anyone of significance. I'm sure fellow Dominican and former teammate Pedro Martinez would push hard for Ramirez. They do have prospect Fernando Martinez as a big trade chip.
• The Phillies. If the Mets are in the hunt, you know the Phillies are too. Manager Charlie Manuel is good friends with Manny from his Indians days. Some have suggested that they Phils could send a package centered around Pat Burrell back to the Sox. Philadelphia has young catcher Lou Marson to offer and not much else in their farm system.
• The Diamondbacks. With Eric Byrnes out for the year and Chad Tracy battling injuries, Arizona could be interested in dealing for Ramirez. GM Josh Byrnes (formerly of Boston's front office) is certainly familiar with Manny, and knows what it takes to handle him, and the Dbacks have plenty of young talent left to deal from. I would love the Sox to land someone like Conor Jackson and a good reliever.
• The Dodgers. This would be an interesting one, uniting Manny and Joe Torre. The NL West could easily be decided by a team willing to add a bat like Ramirez, so LA has to consider it. They could offer back Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier, plus another top prospect, maybe Andy LaRoche.
• The Angels. Manny has indicated in the past that he'd like to play out West in nicer weather, the Angels are in serious need of firepower, and owner Art Moreno loves Latino stars. But if they've put Juan Rivera in the doghouse for what he's done, I don't think they'd want Ramirez coming into their clubhouse. This would only happen if they can get him for next to nothing, and the Sox certainly wouldn't want to see Manny in the other dugout come ALCS time.

It's strange for the Red Sox to be sellers at this point in the season, but Manny's recent antics have precipitated this latest attempt to unload him. You can bet that a trade of Ramirez would be followed immediately by a trade for a right-handed slugging outfielder, perhaps Adam Dunn or Burrell.

Some have suggested that the Sox would waive or even cut Ramirez at this point. I don't agree. Waiving him would give you more leverage, since he'd be tradeable even after the deadline; however you risk a team like the Mets scooping him up and leaving you without a left fielder. I think releasing him is out of the question; that's still $7M of salary to eat, and you'd be paying him to play against you. The Sox could throw in a lot of cash to make the deal sweeter for a more cash-strapped team, however.

Theo is not a dummy. He's not going to give up perhaps the best-hitting left fielder in the AL for nothing. As always, he's going to check out the market, evaluate and look to get good return value. Manny (read: Scott Boras) has already asked that the acquiring team decline his two options, so that he can go to free agency this offseason. This is asking a lot of any trading partner, so things could easily stay status quo. I doubt any of these teams would be so desperate as to pay Epstein's price for Manny, but you just never know...