Alright...We've Entered Tradeland...What Now?

Post #1 » by **Bulltalk** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:43 pm

My thoughts were that if we weren't a .500 team, in first place, or within earshot of it on June 1st, then it's time to start thinking trades, and cashing-out on the idea of seeking to remain in a competitively viable state for the remainder of the season.

I have just entered this zone. It's all about next season now, and the seasons after that from here on out through spring training next year. Who's rightfully on-the-block now? Hmmm...

1) Bedard
2) Washburn
3) Beltre
4) Jojhima
5) Silva (duh)
6) Branyan
7) Others?

What can we much hope for in the way of parlaying any of these people into a package of prospects? And who in our farm system currently do you think we should bring up at some point this season to take a look at?

Thoughts?

jumanji · Post #2 » by **jumanji** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:48 pm

I agree with Bedard, Washburn and Beltre but i would also add Yuni and Lopez. I'd say for now with Saunders hitting near 400 at Tacoma the outfield is set. The bullpen looks good also. After that it's open season.

Can we get Ibanez and Adam Jones back?, arguably you'd have the best outfield in baseball.

What is the plan for Michael Saunders and Jeff Clement? the parent club cant score runs and these guys have been raking lately. Hard to believe they can break into this lineup.

Post #3 » by **Bulltalk** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:59 pm

jumanji wrote:I agree with Bedard, Washburn and Beltre but i would also add Yuni and Lopez. I'd say for now with Saunders hitting near 400 at Tacoma the outfield is set. The bullpen looks good also. After that it's open season.

Can we get Ibanez and Adam Jones back?, arguably you'd have the best outfield in baseball.

What is the plan for Michael Saunders and Jeff Clement? the parent club cant score runs and these guys have been raking lately. Hard to believe they can break into this lineup.

That's why I'm thinking Branyan on the trade block. Let's face it. He's not in our long term plans, and we have to have a place to plug Clement into. Let's not wait until September with this guy. Let's see more of him at this level ASAP. We've got to find out some things about him.

Yuni and Lopez? Sure. Why not? I'm not sure what interest there would be out there for them, if any.

I'd like to see Aumont get a taste of the major league level, preferably as a starter. It would be unrealistic, and probably counterproductive to do so until very late in the season.

Post #4 » by **Sweezo** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:45 pm

Jojhima's on the DL, so we're good and stuck with him. Same with Silva.

Clement should be on the list...he's clearly not going to get a shot as a catcher in this organization, and as a 1b/DH type I think his bat's fairly mediocre.

jumanji · Post #5 » by **jumanji** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:10 pm

Sweezo wrote:Jojhima's on the DL, so we're good and stuck with him. Same with Silva.

Clement should be on the list...he's clearly not going to get a shot as a catcher in this organization, and as a 1b/DH type I think his bat's fairly mediocre.

I'd trade Clement but not just to give him away. As for his bat i dont think we know what he can do yet. He showed some signs last year of coming around and has been hitting well at Tacoma. I feel pretty comfortable with Branyon at 1st for now so a trade for Jeff would probably be wise and unfortunately close the books on a dreadful draft pick in a loaded draft.

Ex-hippie · Post #6 » by **Ex-hippie** » Thu May 28, 2009 2:43 am

Ichiro. The time is now. He needs to win. The team needs to go into full-rebuild mode. The team has plenty of outfielders in the system ready to play in the next few years, including Saunders, Gutierrez, Balentien, Halman, Raben, Almonte, and most likely Dustin Ackley. Ichiro's trade value is as high as it will ever be. The team badly needs one or more young middle infielders. They need to make it happen.

nuke the whales · Post #7 » by **nuke the whales** » Thu May 28, 2009 4:36 am

If we really think we can contend next year, then we should be talking contract extension, not trade with Bedard.

b_roy7 · Post #8 » by **b_roy7** » Thu May 28, 2009 6:33 am

nuke the whales wrote:If we really think we can contend next year, then we should be talking contract extension, not trade with Bedard.

Contend? No no no. Rebuild mode yo.

Post #9 » by **Bulltalk** » Thu May 28, 2009 7:07 am

Ex-hippie wrote:Ichiro. The time is now. He needs to win. The team needs to go into full-rebuild mode. The team has plenty of outfielders in the system ready to play in the next few years, including Saunders, Gutierrez, Balentien, Halman, Raben, Almonte, and most likely Dustin Ackley. Ichiro's trade value is as high as it will ever be. The team badly needs one or more young middle infielders. They need to make it happen.

Is it allowable? That's the reason I didn't put him on the list.

Post #10 » by **BlackMamba** » Thu May 28, 2009 2:14 pm

i agree that the three top "prospects" for trades are bedard, washburn and beltré. but i think that anyone in the M's organization could be available. ichiro could be the cornerstone and the franchise player and that also means that in a trade he would be the player that gets more talent for the mariners.

i think we all agree that the current roster won't take the M's to the playoffs or even try to contend, so it's time to think about the future and make an actual rebuilding aiming for the next 4-5 years to be a top team. ichiro won't be around and other teams that need him right now would be willing to trade some future for some present.

another thing is that i'm not very familiar with the M's minor leage and prospects, so i really don't have a clue if someone is coming strong or what. i've read a lot about clement and balentin in this boards, but they still have to break through. but i don't know, this is just like a blind comment on the colors used in a paniting.

Ex-hippie · Post #11 » by **Ex-hippie** » Thu May 28, 2009 9:32 pm

Bulltalk wrote:
Ex-hippie wrote:Ichiro. The time is now. He needs to win. The team needs to go into full-rebuild mode. The team has plenty of outfielders in the system ready to play in the next few years, including Saunders, Gutierrez, Balentien, Halman, Raben, Almonte, and most likely Dustin Ackley. Ichiro's trade value is as high as it will ever be. The team badly needs one or more young middle infielders. They need to make it happen.

Is it allowable? That's the reason I didn't put him on the list.

"Allowable," how? As in, does he have a no-trade clause? I'm not sure. But given all those Ichiro-vs-the-clubhouse stories and the fact that he probably doesn't want 2001 to be his only career postseason appearance, you have to figure he'd approve at least some trades.

Bay_Areas_Finest · Post #12 » by **Bay_Areas_Finest** » Thu May 28, 2009 10:07 pm

I'd be all for trading anyone and everyone on the pro level not named Felix Hernandez or Franklin Gutierrez.

Post #13 » by **Bulltalk** » Fri May 29, 2009 12:47 am

Ex-hippie wrote:
Bulltalk wrote:
Ex-hippie wrote:Ichiro. The time is now. He needs to win. The team needs to go into full-rebuild mode. The team has plenty of outfielders in the system ready to play in the next few years, including Saunders, Gutierrez, Balentien, Halman, Raben, Almonte, and most likely Dustin Ackley. Ichiro's trade value is as high as it will ever be. The team badly needs one or more young middle infielders. They need to make it happen.

Is it allowable? That's the reason I didn't put him on the list.

"Allowable," how? As in, does he have a no-trade clause? I'm not sure. But given all those Ichiro-vs-the-clubhouse stories and the fact that he probably doesn't want 2001 to be his only career postseason appearance, you have to figure he'd approve at least some trades.

I meant he's not to be traded because the Nintendo owner says no. Or that it is implied we can't for this reason.

Ex-hippie · Post #14 » by **Ex-hippie** » Fri May 29, 2009 2:57 am

Yeah, could be.

Ex-hippie · Post #15 » by **Ex-hippie** » Fri May 29, 2009 3:17 pm

So let's start the serious discussions with the Wiretap headline, "Dodgers want to upgrade pitching via trade." Oh look, we have Erik Bedard, ready to be shipped off to a strong contender. And they have Ivan DeJesus Jr., a shortstop who seems to be the anti-Yuni (consistently good defense, good plate discipline and baseball smarts) and is nearly ready for the bigs. Things that make you go hmm.

jumanji · Post #16 » by **jumanji** » Fri May 29, 2009 5:57 pm

Ex-hippie wrote:So let's start the serious discussions with the Wiretap headline, "Dodgers want to upgrade pitching via trade." Oh look, we have Erik Bedard, ready to be shipped off to a strong contender. And they have Ivan DeJesus Jr., a shortstop who seems to be the anti-Yuni (consistently good defense, good plate discipline and baseball smarts) and is nearly ready for the bigs. Things that make you go hmm.

Jason Donald of the Phillies would be another option for Bedard.

Ex-hippie · Post #17 » by **Ex-hippie** » Fri May 29, 2009 8:16 pm

Donald is a name I've stumbled across before. At least we know the Phillies have no immediate need for middle infield prospects. Last I heard, they thought he might not stick at shortstop. I wonder if he could slide over to second? If the first two months of 2009 are any guide, the M's will be needing someone new there as well.

Post #18 » by **Bulltalk** » Fri May 29, 2009 8:38 pm

There's no question about Bedard now. We either sign him soon, or we trade him soon. And let's please not drag this out to the deadline's final bell. You've got to figure his value is about as high as it's going to get right about now, or not far from now.

Ex-hippie · Post #19 » by **Ex-hippie** » Fri May 29, 2009 9:03 pm

Bulltalk wrote:There's no question about Bedard now. We either sign him soon, or we trade him soon.

And since he's shown zero interest in re-signing, that answers that.

Post #20 » by **Bulltalk** » Fri May 29, 2009 11:16 pm

Ex-hippie wrote:
Bulltalk wrote:There's no question about Bedard now. We either sign him soon, or we trade him soon.

And since he's shown zero interest in re-signing, that answers that.

Seems so. And there seems little doubt that he has the potential to be a real difference maker for the right team down the stretch. I think we have to trade him before he pulls up lame in some way.