Are you buying?

The Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers are talking with Oakland about a deal for starting pitcher Joe Blanton.

Blanton, who was 14-10 last year and is already signed for this year, has won 42 games in the past three years.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is also reporting the talks.

His current deal is worth $3.8 million.

The Reds have talked with Oakland about Blanton before, but were initially turned off by Oakland's high asking price for the pitcher.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080207/SPT04/302070036/

Blanton is projected by Zips for 2008:

        Age ERA   W   L   G  GS     INN    H   ER  HR   BB    K
Blanton 27 4.22  13  12  33  33   211.0  228   99  21   52  121
Wainer  26 4.13  13  11  31  31   194.0  202   89  20   57  131

Some other projections:

BJAMES   W  L  ERA  G GS   IP      H   HR BB   K
Blanton 13 12 3.80 32 32  220.0   233  19 54  128
Wainer  11 12 4.06 31 31  213.0   225  18 69  160

CHONE     ERA   IP    H   R  ER HR BB   K
Blanton  3.98 215.0  230 103 95 21 49  127
Wainer   3.95 173.0  175  82 76 16 57  121  

MARCELS   W  L  ERA   IP      H   R ER HR BB  K
Blanton  13 10 4.13  194.0   206 96 89 16 51 121
Wainer    9  8 3.87  149.0   149 68 64 12 51 110

His thru Age 26 comps are somewhat scary, a list that includes Kip Wells, Jason Marquis and respectably John Lackey.

I'd have to believe that the Reds AREN'T going to give up Homer Bailey for Joe Blanton.  That would be as dumb as trading Dan Haren for Mark Mulder.

So, what exactly are you willing to give up for Joe Blanton?  Is he worth looking at (removing the Billy Beane factor)?  Keep in mind, Blanton doesn't become a FA until 2011 so you'd be able to, health permitting, get 4 seasons out of him.