11/21/24
July 14, 2006
The Battle for Abreu: continues, with both New York teams pursuing him. Thw White Sox are looking to add a setup man, while the Phillies are looking to unload everyone. An interesting bunch of scenerios inside.
posted by redsoxrgay to baseball at 03:52 PM - 21 comments
Here's one for the predictions list... I'll be shocked if Abreu gets dealt during the season. I sincerely doubt it happens.
posted by SummersEve at 04:39 PM on July 14, 2006
Bobby "Cool Breeze" Abreu is going (I hope) nowhere. That said, at least get some decent starting pitching if he must be dealt. Man it sucks being a Philly fan.
posted by GoBirds at 04:50 PM on July 14, 2006
And here's one that will shock everyone...Alfonso Soriano plays out the rest of his season in a Washington Nationals uniform because the Nats can't find enough in a trade to risk sending him away... But on Abreu...he's not been the same ever since the Home Run Derby...its like that contest changed him completely as a hitter.
posted by chemwizBsquared at 05:46 PM on July 14, 2006
I would like to see a dozen more homers and a few more RBI but I think his numbers speak for themselves. Not to mention one error on the year and a .994 fielding average with a hundred and sixty something putouts... B Abreu PHI OF Games:85 At bats:287 Runs:56 Hits:84 2B:22 3B:2 HR:8 RBI:59 Total Bases:134 BB:83 SO:71 SB:18 CS:4 OBP:.447 Slugging:.467 Avg:.293
posted by GoBirds at 06:24 PM on July 14, 2006
And here's one that will shock everyone...Alfonso Soriano plays out the rest of his season in a Washington Nationals uniform because the Nats can't find enough in a trade to risk sending him away... I would think the Nats would take almost anything in return. They have no chance this year. They would be able to unload the remainder of his salary. And I don't see them having any chance of resigning him after this year when he becomes a free agent. I think that's why the Rangers unloaded him in the first place.
posted by graymatters at 06:44 PM on July 14, 2006
I only say that because I've seen several top players who are due big contracts end up staying put after July 31. We've got a whole 2 weeks left...Houston for Aubery Huff turned out well last night...and the Cincy trades to shore up the pen may be big for the Reds...but those won't be the last deals before the deadline...that I can say for sure...
posted by chemwizBsquared at 06:49 PM on July 14, 2006
Soriano and cash to Oakland for a bag of donuts. Or Dan Johnson and Mark Ellis.
posted by diastematic at 07:25 PM on July 14, 2006
Todd Jones and cash for Abreu...? Ok -- Jones, Jason Grilli and cash...? Ok! Ok!!! -- Jones, Grilli, and Craig Monroe, cash and a partridge in a pear tree! Yeah right.
posted by wingnut4life at 08:38 PM on July 14, 2006
"Man it sucks being a Philly fan" Yeah, that whole A.I situation sucks. If they trade him, they wont get enough back, but if they keep him, they keep an aging superstar, who takes up lots of cap space.
posted by redsoxrgay at 08:38 PM on July 14, 2006
The Yanks should just sit back and ride it out this season. The team is (as I type) right on the Red Sox' heels, and it seems this year is the perfect time to allow some of their younger players to see this season through to it's conclusion. I do agree with chemwiz, though, because it seems after the home run contest a few years ago, Abreu got typecast as some sort of Ruthian basher. His numbers are still good, but expecting him to mash balls out of the park consistently like he did that night, is probably a bit out of line.
posted by dyams at 07:34 AM on July 15, 2006
Predictions: 1) Abreu goes to the Yanks or nowhere, almost certainly the latter. No other team will be willing to take the Phillies off the hook for Abreu's salary, and the Yanks won't part with anything that won't make the Philly fan base burn the team offices to the ground. 2) Nationals deal Soriano for pitching. Bowden played the Reds deal beautifully, but it only works if he manages to replenish the loss of top notch young pitchers. Soriano is his best chance to do just that. If he pulls it off, Nats fans will be lovin' the summer of aught-seven. 3) This will be the funniest thing I read today: "Quickie prediction: Sidney Ponson isn't this year's Shawn Chacon. Rather, he's Tim Redding with behavioral issues." Well done.
posted by BullpenPro at 03:07 PM on July 17, 2006
Wow, I just heard that the Tigers are in the mix for either Abreu or Soriano (WTKA am 1050 in Detroit). Either one would be ok, but Abreu would be my first pick because he's a lefty. Also, Soriano will probably want to go back to SS, and we're pretty much good at that spot with Guillen.
posted by wingnut4life at 04:17 PM on July 17, 2006
Soriano never played short- he plays OF and second.
posted by redsoxrgay at 10:15 PM on July 17, 2006
Actually, Soriano is a "natural" SS (that is to say, that's where he -- and he alone -- is most comfortable), but was moved to 2B by the Yankees because they, uh, already had that spot covered. I have seen him play both -- he is equally awful on both sides. I promise you there is not a team in the majors that wants this guy in their middle infield. Polanco and Guillen are both solid players, though I could possibly see a scenario where Soriano takes over 2B and Polanco returns to the "super sub" status he had with STL and Philly. It's not a good scenario, mind you, but I could see it.
posted by BullpenPro at 10:23 PM on July 17, 2006
Soriano never played short- he plays OF and second. If you don't know what you're talking about, best to just be quiet.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 04:40 AM on July 18, 2006
Soriano needs to stay in the outfield. He plays pretty well out there and his arm is good for it. His speed isn't a bad thing out there either.
posted by kidrayter2005 at 11:24 AM on July 18, 2006
Interesting article, TBH. I wonder if, given his aversion to change, Soriano would now prefer to stay in the outfield, since he's made the adjustment at this point. Of course, if Soriano was really averse to change, he might not have spouted off about his intentions to get back into the AL at the end of the season, or cut off the possibility of a contract extension with DC at the time of the trade (note: I'm not certain DC was interested in extending his contract, but he made that a non-issue before his plane hit the ground at Dulles).
posted by BullpenPro at 12:57 PM on July 18, 2006
Here in Detroit rumor has it that they have been making many inquiries about Soriano, possibly even putting an offer on the table. It seems they would offer Craig Monroe, a pitcher from Toledo, and some other players thrown into the deal. Mind that the pitcher would probably be an excellant prospect, but the Tigers system is quite deep so they could afford it.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 01:51 PM on July 18, 2006
Yeah, but the chances that Soriano will change positions is highly unlikely. He isnt going to change his whole game to end up in Detroit either. The Nats have a decent offense, so Soriano will likely go. But right now hes doing quite well in the outfield, and I seriously doubt soriano will switch to short mid season. Even if Detroit gets him, im not sure if they would want to move him to short, they have alot invested in Guillen- whos a pretty good fielder too.
posted by redsoxrgay at 02:12 PM on July 18, 2006
I don't think anyone is actually considering moving Soriano to short. 2nd base is a long-shot at this point - short is out of the question. He'd have to hit a homer a day to overcome his defensive deficiencies. Nope- I figure he could slide into the Tigers outfield without too much problem. He's not worse than Ordonez out there.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:27 PM on July 18, 2006
No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no. The Tigers need a left handed bat and since Aubrey Huff has been traded, all the talk is about Bobby Abreu. Hell, its been talked about so much that there are people here believing its going to happen. However, a trade of that sort is difficult since unlike the Yankees, the Tigers aren't idiotic enough to trade away their stud prospects. Guys like Zumaya and Verlander aren't going anywhere (I hope) which is a real turn off for teams looking to deal. That being said, I still think the Tigers have a decent chance at getting Abreu.