Once Rasmus comes up, I don't see a long-term place for both of them. And if Barton develops into a regular, then there would be even less playing time for them. I've been stumping for Josh Barfield to play 2B for months now. The Indians sent him to Triple-A to start the season. We have nothing to lose by offering some combination of Reyes, Schu/Ludwick and Duncan.

have great depth in the SP department, with: CC, Fausto, Byrd, Lee, Westbrook and then Elarton, Laffey, Adam Miller, and Jeremy Sowers at AAA. So they won't be needing A-Rey or any kind of pitching of the MLB ready variety. They also are stacked in the outfield with Francisco sitting in AAA and at 1B/DH with Garko/Hafner. I don't know who they would want from us if we were to attempt to acquire Barfield. The indians seemed stacked at every position.

is 31( too old, 2B don't age well). Plus, we aren't in the position to acquire a 2B right now b/c we have invested $4.9 m towards the 2008 "tandem" of Miles/Kennedy.

Aside from Piniero and Carpenter, I have no faith that Mulder or Clement will be able to rebound from injuries. I haven't seen any real statistical or case-study analysis, but the anecdotal evidence suggests that the prospect of recovering from shoulder surgeries with real effectiveness is grim. I think we should probably hold onto our starting pitching until the big guys have demonstrated big league numbers in their rehab starts in AA which, as I suggested, it's a long shot.

Maybe we should trade Looper, though, because he's expensive and it's his walk year. Our obvious need is a middle-infielder with OBP and can hit lefties (I really don't like Miles).

I would actually be really interested in undertaking the pitching project: look at various statistics of pitchers pre-surgery and post-surgery (maybe focusing on k-rate, walk-rate, RA, DIPS, etc), maybe control for age and look at the results. I'm familiar with regression analysis/econometrics, but have never applied it to baseball. If anyone familiar with baseball data analysis wants to work on it with me, I would be excited.

is blocked right now by Molina and the Red Sox are looking for a future catcher.
As for players that are on our big league roster now, I can see Skip/Ludwick/Barton being traded.
Something would have to be pretty tempting to move Dunc/Reyes.
Our only gaping hole is prob future SS.

Folks,

The Detroit Tigers are in dire need of bullpen help at the moment.

I know they remember what ARey did to them in the WS.

Don't know what they have left in the system after the deal with the Marlins.

Clement later. Why not keep the youngsters around? If they don't look like they are going to improve by the end of the season, there are lots of nice free agents to be in 2009......I have never thought much of Pineiro, folks injured like Mulder rarely come back to anything like their former selves, and Looper will be a free agent going into his 35 year season. I want them to put #23 back into the rotation. One thing he has shown all spring is command and control and that is what made him so good when he was in the minors. He didn't have that last season, and now that he does, he seems primed for a breakout IMO. I would hate for it to happen on someone else's mound.

He is tradeable, easily, and the Cards are probably asking for too much.....or maybe there is someone in the organization who just doesn't want to cut the chord on him. Hampton's out, Pedro's out, Phillies are a mess on the mound, Nats are always willing to take on the "problem" children, and there's a rumor the Royals would like him. Mr. Mozeliak needs to get on the phone...unless maybe he really doesn't want to.

I mean it seems like he's available like Brian Roberts is available......only for a kings ransom.....

I said I wasn't going to comment on (#23) anymore....but since I didn't start the thread, maybe you all can forgive me. I'm going back to reading my new Richard Russo book.

You all have a nice day.