If we trade him we better get some high quality players back.

If we trade him, we better get some quality free movie tickets... or like some of those 1$ off taco coupons for Rubios or something.

A free agent after this year coming off a broken leg probably won't bring much more than minor league prospects. Too bad, I like Juan.

Aybar, Izturis Work Out at 2B
Erick Aybar will start today's game in Peoria at second base and Maicer Izturis will also work out at the position today in Angels camp.

Barmes draws interest from O's, Angels
The Orioles are looking for an everyday shortstop, while the Angels view Barmes as a reserve.

Is it something they have to do? Are they just taking the risk to find out what he's worth?

will be traded by the deadline (barring a catostrophic injury), although I think it should be Willits who's traded.

Santana still worries me too much. I think that overall he might continue to fall off. I wouldn't mind a Mosley/Saunders competition for the 5th role.

How Juan is expendable instead of Reggie. However, I also don't really see how either of them fits into the complete picture at this point. We need outfield depth, sure, and we need average and power coming from those positions (as with every position, but especially so there).

Vlad-GA-GMJ-Hunter seems a pretty good rotation. But who do you want in there if one of those four goes down? Chone Figgins? Reggie Willits? Or Juan Rivera? Remember, Reggie didn't do so hot on limited and irregular ABs back in 2006. He did fantastically well last year, but that was only after he was given a long-term opportunity when GA went down for an extended period. Juan, on the other hand, showed great power in '06 with almost just as limited ABs.

The big problem here was acquiring both GMJ and Torii. If it were one or the other, we wouldn't have this situation--either Juan and GMJ, Juan and GA, or (forbid it!) Juan and Torii would, as we speak, be duking it out for the regular starting job in Left Field.

As it is, especially given Rivera's "recent" injury "history," and given that Reggie is strongly coming off a career year, I think we can best capitalize on his current value over Juan's. In the long-run, we're going to be better off trading Willits for quality prospects (I'm not expecting huge marquee names here, mind you!) as opposed to the iffy players we're likely to get from trading Juan Rivera (unless, ironically enough, said players included a strong A or AA outfield bat to replace the current guys down the line). Additionally, keeping Rivera is likely to provide better OF insurance for us in terms of power and defense, whereas keeping Reggie may or may not get us both of those things.

Anyway, hard to say what should best be done here. Reggie's only value at this point, I think, is as a bench/utility player who will do well in the (admittedly likely) event that one or more of the outfield regulars goes down for an extended period, as Garrett did last year.

"We have a congested outfield, and there is a perception that we have to move him," Reagins said of Rivera.

"We've had conversations with other clubs, but I'm not looking to trade this guy. He's going to be an important part of the team. He provides depth and versatility. And you have to look long term. The makeup of the team could be different in 2009 and 2010."

latimes.com

odd division-clinching post-game clubhouse interview, food poisoning... At least it was McPherson who had the hives, I think.

Might be time we got back to some Astrology around here, Rev.

A stitch in time

What seemed to be a routine slide home Monday resulted in a gash in Casey Kotchman's right shin that required seven stitches and limited the first baseman to throwing and batting practice Tuesday.

...the full story behind a poor free agent signing.

It wasn't just the 5yrs, or the $50m (though they were, and continue to be, pretty unpalatable). It's the 3-year no-trade clause that is really stinking the place out. With that in place, it corrupts the trade value for 2 players that, frankly, I'd rather not have to consider trading. Without GMJ we'd have a less threatened outfield - we'd know who the primary DH we'd be, and so would GA and Vlad - we'd have a younger, more versatile bench, and we wouldn't be having to go cap in hand to try and unload these players for less than they're worth.

That's the legacy of a really poorly thought out signing last year - and every other GM knows it.

four-seamers, Santana, and Shields... pe.com.

And maybe this is just an updated T-Rea' at the office piece?

Cant wait to see this kid. Sub-mariner so far no one can hit.