Yankees..Rolen..Dark horse?

by cardsphan04 on Nov 6, 2007 10:32 AM EST Comment 22 comments

According to a recent post over at MLB trade rumors, the yankees best canidate could be Rolen. It goes into some detail as why and to be honest it really does make sense for them. I would really support moving Rolen. I love the guy and he is a great person (met him at spring training) but I am a big supporter of building for 09' and we need to dump the salary. Thoughts?

Poll

What do you do with Rolen?

Trade him to the Yankees (or anyone) to help build the system?

62 votes

Keep him and hope he returns to form?

32 votes

Trade him in a package for a stud?

25 votes

Buy him a tractor and let him drive it around Busch stadium listening to theme from the dukes of hazard?

16 votes

135 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 22 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I know I spelled some words wrong.....sorry

2/3rd's of the earth is covered by water, the other third is coverd by Jim Edmonds....when he's healthy...

by cardsphan04 on Nov 6, 2007 10:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It's not impossible...

but I just don't see it happening. Rolen probably wouldn't approve a trade to the Yanks, but even with that aside I see them going heavy after Miguel Cabrera. They have the guys to get him, and he would have a much greater impact in the lineup and for marketing.

Also, without Rolen...who starts at third for the BOB? Betimit?

Personally I hope we hold on to ScoRo. He's still the gold standard at the hot corner defensively, and I am confident he'll rebound to a 20-25 HR guy batting .290ish in '08. I guess the big hang-up is his relationship with Tony...GROW UP!

by cardzfanbub on Nov 6, 2007 10:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Grow Up

was directed at Tony and ScoRo...not the original poster.

by cardzfanbub on Nov 6, 2007 10:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Trade proposal

The Yankees these days are all about getting younger and smarter with their money. They also happen to have a huge hole at third base, and since they have no real prospects to fill said hole, here is what I think we should offer them:

Give Up:
Rolen
Bryan Anderson
Pj Walters

Get Back:
Ian Kennedy
Wilson Betemit

Now right off the bat some might be skeptical about this, but I feel its an incredibly smart trade for both teams. Posada is old, and even in his current contract discussions its accepted that by the end of his latest 3 year deal he will be DHing. The Yankees have a need for a young catching prospect to take his place, and while they don't need him right now they will in another year or two - exactly when Anderson is expected to hit the majors. Him and Rolen alone might not be enough to get Kennedy back though - a young starting pitcher is a pretty valuable commodity these days - and so I think we should also include PJ Walters, someone who has had some great success in the minors but still has some big question marks about how his stuff wil translate to the bigs. If not Walters, then some other middling prospect, a B level guy.

Ian Kennedy would also help us a great deal, shoring up our rotation and helping to make us younger and cheaper. Betemit could be a solid fill in guy for us, but hopefully he would only be our fallback option and we could pursue a better option at third.

Personally I would love it if we made a run at A-Rod (I can't help it, seeing him and pujols batting 3-4 would be just orgasmic, and with duncan batting 5 spot, jimmy 6 and eventually rasmus at #1 or 2???? foget about it, we are immediately back on top within a year). But even if we don't get A-ROD, there are still plenty of better options at 3rd this winter than Rolen at 13 million a season. If Tejada was willing to move over, he is definitely on the block. Also Uribe, Andy LaRoche, Chone Figgins, Lowell - people we could maybe get and save Rasmus.

My only question for you Cardsphan04 is where you heard reports about the Yanks looking at Rolen? I'd love to see the article if you can still find it.

by jnangle472 on Nov 6, 2007 10:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Intelligent post...

Until you talk about signing A-Rod of course. He's going to end up in a Tiger or Angel uniform IMHO. If he signs with the Mets he'll be playing 2B probably lol.

I think that this is a possible solution for the Cards with Rolen, although I don't think we're getting 100% value, the Yankees picking up his entire paycheck is more than enough to push this deal into "must make" type of move. Kennedy is a solid SP prospect who could come in and shore up the back of the rotation and Betemit could at least be a small solution to the vacated 3B position if they can't sign anyone. If this deal could be made it would also make going after Tejada or Cabrera a much bigger possibility because we'd have $12 million off the books for the next three years.

That being said, if Cabrera and Tejada are on the block, why would the Yankees bother with trying to make a deal for an struggling 3B who's never played in the AL, is owed a ton of money for the next three seasons, and has a no trade clause? Angelos is stupid enough to trade Tejada to a division opponent, and Cabrera makes the most sense for the Yankees since A-Rod is off the books and their payroll will be dramatically lower in 2009 when he becomes a free agent (As if the Yankees care about payroll!!!)

"The Cardinals have won a World Series in THEIR new stadium!" --my Uncle Jim to a heckling Cubs fan

by fourstick on Nov 6, 2007 11:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Source

MLB Trade Rumors cited this Newssday article.

by bdief on Nov 6, 2007 12:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Do people even check the sidebare?

http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/story/2007/11/2/15544/4585

"Well, you wait for a strike. Then you knock the shit out of it. - Musial to Flood on how to hit a curveball

by Hardcore Legend on Nov 6, 2007 11:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

bar*

"Well, you wait for a strike. Then you knock the shit out of it. - Musial to Flood on how to hit a curveball

by Hardcore Legend on Nov 6, 2007 11:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rolen

There just is too many variables the Yankees have to want him and Rolen has to want to leave and go to them.......
But if they wanted him and scotty wanted to leave then I would do it in a second.
If we dealt Rolen I would try to acquire Joe Crede with Josh Fields probably taking over at third the Sox might want to deal Crede.
Hes also coming off an injury so he might be cheaper to acquire then some other 3B options.

by Calhoun on Nov 6, 2007 11:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

In reality,

can we get anyone better defensively than Rolen?
No.
Is he ever going to hit the way he used to?
Probably not.
Is his salary an albatross?
Yes, but every team has at least one. With JED, we have two.
Are we dealing from a position of strength?
No.
Can we improve the team dramatically if we trade him?
Probably not.

I would wait on trading him. My guess is that if we stick him at #2 ahead of Albert, he'll have a good start to the season. Then we trade him in June if that makes sense.
Since we don't know what the Cards front office does about his shoulder, then we're just speculating. I say monitor and trade, not actively shop.

there is no secret weapon...there is only Oquendo.

by bukowski on Nov 6, 2007 11:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

very good analysis

by ridgesee on Nov 6, 2007 6:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Carp's contract

is also an albatross. I didn't see it then, but I do now.

by chuckb on Nov 6, 2007 10:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Look,

My whole view on this thing is that it would free up salary. Do i think we have a better option at third, no, of coarse not, but I would rather use that money towards pitching and it would help improve the team in the future. If Rolens salary is off the books it would give an additonal 12 million in the offseason for the next 3 years. The only reason the yankees would do this deal is because, well to them 12 million is nothing. Its low risk with possible high reward for them. For us we clear up salary and maybe get a good prospect, possibly Cox or one of the pitchers they got in the trade with the tigers for sheffield last year. (The yankees are loaded with pitching prospects). I think we could still field a competetive team for 08' but I think we could build a world series contender for 09' and 10'. With Rolens salary off the books, plus looper, Juan, izzy, and edmonds off also, you are looking at close to 40 million to spend next offseason. If you want Johan santana or some real protection for albert in 09' then this is how you do it.

2/3rd's of the earth is covered by water, the other third is coverd by Jim Edmonds....when he's healthy...

by cardsphan04 on Nov 6, 2007 12:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

one question

who do you buy (specifically) with the freed up salary that will replace or exceed rolen's contributions without jeopardizing draft picks? Keep in mind good free agents cost us draft picks.

by Birds on the Matt on Nov 6, 2007 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

our top pick is

secured under the new system of FA. It's ours no matter who we sign

BLaw.

by Dttl89 on Nov 6, 2007 11:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

but still

give up a pick, just the 2nd rounder instead.

by Birds on the Matt on Nov 7, 2007 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

We need that money going into the next offseason when other third baseman will be available. If we get a good prospect with it, then awesome. There is probably only one team that has the money to take Rolen, and we are fortunate enough for them to have an opening for him. We need to take advantage of this while it is still possible

by tdub on Nov 6, 2007 1:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

...Rolen

If you really want to get something BIG in return for a player like Rolen, you dont do it in the offseason, wait until August after he's actually worth something again (granted he rebounds and puts up good numnbers) and then fleece some hot contending team for top prospects AND $$ you could never get with a guy coming off surgury. Doesnt matter what the newspapers or MLBTR is saying. Hes an offseason "rehab", even if he is SR he's not worth that much right now.

Unless Cashman wants to trade for him on the basis that he's going to be 100% in 08"...which I doubt!

Improve the Cardinals team spirit, integrity and positive public image...sign Bonds for 08'!

by cardschinmusic on Nov 7, 2007 4:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The counter argument is that

some teams may feel like they are pretty confident in a player's ability to rebound after they've researched his medical report - and, if so, they then know they can get him for less right now than if they wait for him to prove he is healthy during the season (something they believe will happen). In which case, they try for him now, while his price is still reduced.

Meanwhile, under the same scenario, the current team is willing to let him go NOW, taking the bird in the hand (so to speak) for slightly less value, but allowing them to move on to other needs.

If any two teams ever met both of these alternative scenarios, it's the Cards and Yanks - the Yanks have the need, and have the ability to gamble, and the Cards really need that money to spend in other areas, and the farm talent the Yankees can provide. The question is, of course, what do the Yankees think of Scott Rolen's medical reports?

by siddfynch on Nov 7, 2007 9:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

exactly my point

To be honest I would trade Rolen to any team that would take him just to move the salary. What makes this even possible though is that it is the yankees that have the need. They have the money

2/3rd's of the earth is covered by water, the other third is coverd by Jim Edmonds....when he's healthy...

by cardsphan04 on Nov 6, 2007 2:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yankees

Yankees make sense in terms of actually getting Rolen off the books, as I would think the Cardinals would have the best shot at NY eating Rolens salary.

However I have heard that there is a real chance at a Joe Crede for Johnny Damon trade. I guess the White Sox don't want a Boras client which Crede is. The only thing is Crede missed all of 07 with back surgery. I don't know who would be less risky, Rolen or Crede.

by ICbirdfan on Nov 6, 2007 2:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs