Beltran Rumor

[stewbacka]

Kim and Damon to Seattle, Freddy Garcia and minor league arm to KC, Beltran to Boston. Seems like the Sox would get a deal if true. However I would think KC would want to hold out for more. Though the Yankees minor leaguers are not said to be enough and their top prospect is a catcher which the Sox have 2 very good ones as well. If I was Seattle I would want Beltran to try to make a run for this year.

[Morgan]

I heard it was the two minor leaguers from Boston, Youkalis (sp?) "greek god of walks", and the catcher that was going to replace Varitek along with Damon and Kim. The prospect go to KC and the players to Seattle.

Basically the Sox are giving away the rest of their farm system to go after a ring this year. Do you like it Stew?

[stewbacka]

Shoppach is the catcher and he is in limbo if they keep Varitek so that does not bother me much. Plus they have at least 2 other catchers they like. Youkilis might be the 3rd baseman next year but if they could give up those 2 guys an swap out the salaries of Damon and Kim for Beltran I would do it. They could resign Mueller at something cheap. This is more about the future then one year IMO.

[WilmasPimp]

That rumor got shot down on Friday. Kim had another rough outing in Pawtucket so his chances of being traded keep going down.

Boras has said that there is no way Beltran will sign an extension this season, so he is strictly a rental player. The sooner Baird trades him the more value he can get. Wouldn't surprise me to see him dealt in by he end of the month. My guess would be Boston or LA.

[MinorThreat22]

This rumor made no sense from the start. Looked great for Boston, ok for KC, but ridiculous for Seattle. What would Seattle want with Damon? He makes way too much, and they're already set at the top of the order with Ichiro, who just happens to be the best leadoff hitters of our generation, and Winn. I know they're trying to deal Garica, but by the deadline, he might have enough value to bring the slugger that Seattle is looking for.

[Morgan]

They'd move Ichiro to the 3 spot. In case you missed it, Seattle can't score.

Winn hasn't been very good this year. He is a more natural left fielder then center, and probably belongs on the bench right now.

[stewbacka]

I am guessing Seattle feels Kim would be more comfortable with being in Seattle. I don't think it sounds that great but Seattle is getting decent return on Garcia. I doubt to the Sox would sign Beltran during the seaon. However if yuo are Boras would you not love the thought of having Beltran on the Sox after them trading for him? That would pit the SOx and Yanks even more so then they already are in a blood battle for Beltran.

[stewbacka]

http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/wilbur/sports_blog/blog/05_17_04/


Little FYI from the Sox end....

[MinorThreat22]

Originally posted by Morgan
They'd move Ichiro to the 3 spot. In case you missed it, Seattle can't score.

Winn hasn't been very good this year. He is a more natural left fielder then center, and probably belongs on the bench right now.

I don't think moving a singles hitter, albeit a great one that hits .320, is going to improve their offensive production much. I agree that Winn isn't a great CF, but at this stage in his career, neither is Damon. He has perhaps the worst OF arm in baseball, and can't cover near the ground he used to. As for him deserving to be benched, he's been as good or better than Damon for the last 3 seasons. He's very underrated, and he's coming off his 2nd consecutive .290+, 25 SB season. I'm not saying that he's the 2nd coming, but he put up one of the better 2nd half performances in baseball last season. He outproduced Damon in every category last season except for runs where he tied him. He did all that for $5 mil less than Damon. I've no doubt that he'll bounce back at some point this season.

[MinorThreat22]

Here's another one:

Beltran to Philly for Gavin Floyd, and Marlon Byrd. I think this one makes more sense. KC doesn't have much bargaining power since Beltran's agent is Boras, and for that reason he's pretty much guaranteed to become a FA.