Why a lot of people hate on Izzy. He was great last year coming off his injury plagued (and horrible) 2006. He hasn’t done much this year to suggest that he is going to revert back to that 2006 form either. Sure has has blown one save… but his K/9 and BB/9 stats are strong and no where near they were in 2006 (His K/9 right now is 9.0 and his K/BB sits at 4).

Someone has suggested trading for Zobrist of the Rays or Lowrie of the Red Sox. I’d love to package our catching prospect plus a pitcher for either of them… or one of the Angels’ middle infield prospects.

And I don’t want to be down on Looper, but I’d suggest we get what we can for him. Remember the Bottenfield for Edmonds deal? Looper plus a prospect for a future hall of famer? (I can dream!)

I have to say I didn’t see that coming. I hope Santa holds up. That has to indicate that Ryan will be coming back soon, doesn’t it?

Probably just delaying the inevitable for Thompson, then, huh?

Kyle McClellan fits into the future as a starter or a reliever. If it’s a starter, go ahead and send him to Memphis to start.
Next is Looper. Does he have any trade value? He didn’t look all that good in the spring, and righthanders-we’ve got ‘em here and in Memphis. Pineiro? Did we buy high there? Did we buy too long? I don’t care how many ground balls you get, you cannot survive long in the majors with a K rate of 0 Per ten innings. If he gets a nice run going, I’d get him out of here.
It’s all well and good to get excited about Mulder, but if he isn’t missing bats in AA after a few more starts, well, he’s going to have problems in the ML. So they better think long and hard before they let loose someon like Thompson or Reyes.

Or, they should throw Springer right away, and if he doesn’t seem ready, he goes right back on the DL.

If Lohse has a good season, he’s going to be lining up for a monster contract. If we’re out, so is he. Before the deadline.

So, it seems like the majority of people believe that we are still committed to youth; but we should be looking to get value for the commodities we have. I agree whole-heartedly.

Here’s my take. My biggest concern is not getting value for the current team assets, and I’m worried about trade value this early in the season. It was an interesting diversion to send down Washington in order to bring Springer back, but that simply delays the inevitable decision that will need to be made when Ryan comes back up.

Now, Strauss wrote today that it seems as though Thompson and Reyes are both garnering some interest throughout the league right now. As the GM, I wouldn’t consider too many guys to be untouchable; so if I think Reyes is my best trade chip to get a significant upgrade at the MIF positions (specifically at SS) I would pull the trigger. That said, I wouldn’t get backed into a corner to just get rid of him while I still have options.

I would prefer to find a way to move some of the older, still productive, veteran pitchers (Looper, Pineiro, Franklin, and later Lohse or Mulder). I think that market probably won’t open up until closer to the deadline. I also don’t want to move guys until I know what I have in Clement, Mulder, Pineiro, and (to a lesser extent) Carpenter.

So, while I know it would be unpopular with some, I would prefer to option Thompson, McClellan, and/or Reyes in order to make room for these returning pitchers. I think you need to give these guys enough of an opportunity to find out what you have. I don’t necessarily mean for retaining long term, but maybe decide whether they are tradeable or should be released. Incidentally, that is why I would look to option Reyes last, as I believe the kid needs time against major league hitters.

Well, let me know what you think? Thanks.

From the P-D site:

MULDER NOT CLOSE

The Cardinals originally thought lefthanded starter Mark Mulder would return to the active roster after three rehab starts.

That timetable apparently is no longer in force.

General manager John Mozeliak said it is possible Mulder will remain on his current rehab assignment for the maximum 30 days while La Russa suggested he might get “10 starts” before facing major-league bats.

“I don’t even put them in the same category. I’m done explaining it,” La Russa said when a question compared Pineiro and Mulder. “Mark is going to come up when he’s ready to go. He needs to come up not in a process of rehabbing, but ready to pitch like the Mark Mulder of old to the best of his ability. Whatever it takes. There’s potentially too much good there.”

Mozeliak said: “If you look at it, the best way to approach it is probably to be conservative. I would say it’s going in the direction it’s supposed to be. He feels good, but he still has room for improvement.”

I think it’s hard to disagree that the biggest need is to upgrade the MI spots. There aren’t very many teams that would be logical trade partners (i.e. MIs to spare, need OF/P and/or C prospect). Here’s a very rudimentary list that I’ve found:

1) Boston – Jed Lowrie. Bryan Anderson might be useful to groom as a replacement for Varitek.
2) Cleveland – Josh Barfield. They need help in the pen and OF.
3) LA/Anaheim – Erick Aybar/Brandon Wood. I know, Wood’s probably out of reach, but Aybar could be interesting. Would Duncan + a P be enough for him?
4) Atlanta – Brent Lillibridge. Their pen is brutal.
5) Cincinnati – Ryan Freel. He can play 2B and would be a TLR favorite instantly. He’s a bit injury-prone, but he’s stuck behind too many other players. Would they trade within the division?
6) LA Dodgers – Chin Lung Hu. Lboros has written about him before. The question is if they would be interested in what we offer.
7) Colorado – Clint Barmes. This ship may have already sailed. Nix isn’t hitting at all and Barmes may take the job.

IMO, Atlanta & Cleveland seem like the most likely to deal, given their needs. Lillibridge at SS and Ryan at 2B when he comes back would be an interesting MI.