Cleveland Sports Forum

Since July 1, 2010, Carlos Santana is batting .219.

2nd highest OPS in the AL for a catcher.

Available Bats By wOBA
By Tim Dierkes [July 25 at 11:09am CST]
Weighted on-base average is a great stat to measure overall offensive production. Using FanGraphs, my own list of trade candidates, and a 200 plate appearance minimum, here's a list of potentially available bats by wOBA:

Carlos Beltran - .394
Michael Cuddyer - .371
Aramis Ramirez - .370
Casey Kotchman - .367
Hunter Pence - .366
Mark Reynolds - .355
Marlon Byrd - .353
Michael Bourn - .352
Chris Iannetta - .349
Melky Cabrera - .349
Ty Wigginton - .340
Laynce Nix - .339
Carlos Pena - .339
Jeff Francoeur - .338
Denard Span - .337
Kosuke Fukudome - .336
Josh Willingham - .332
Colby Rasmus - .328
Johnny Damon - .328
Jonny Gomes - .328
The list looks reasonably healthy at first glance, but I was liberal with my inclusions. Take out Cuddyer, Ramirez, and Pence for various reasons, and you realize that the trade market consists of Beltran plus a few decent hitters for whom you still might have to overpay.

Ludwick has a .305 OBP in 2011.

Buck has a .283 OBP in 2011.

Hey, Hoynsie: I know the Indians have an $9 million option on Grady Sizemore next year, which it doesn't appear likely they will exercise. Are the Indians' only choices to pick up the option or pay the $500,000 buyout? Could they renegotiate a one-year, incentive-laden contract instead? -- Rich Smith, Columbus


Hey, Rich: If the Indians don't pick up Sizemore's club option for 2012, he can be a free agent. They could always let him become a free agent and then try to re-sign him, but that usually doesn't work if you intention is to keep the player.
The chances of Sizemore returning next year are very good.

http://www.stationcaster.com/player_ski ... 6&f=123891

Chris Antonetti interview from WKNR this morning.

A look at the standings around MLB this morning sees much more separation among the contenders than we had just several days ago. Might be more sellers emerging, I would think.

In the NL West, Colorado, LA and San Diego are all double digit out with the trade deadline here.

In the NL Central, The Cubs and Houston are double digit out.

In the NL East, The Mets, Nationals and Marlins are double digit out.

In the AL East, Baltimore and Toronto are double digit out, and Tampa Bay is 9 1/2 out.

In the AL West, Oakland and Seattle are double digit out.

In our Division, KC is double digit out



In the National League there are 8 teams today that could be sellers.

In the American League there are 6 teams today that could be sellers.

That's a different trade landscape than when we had so many teams within 5 games not that long ago.

Really not that much difference. Teams are still asking for an arm or a leg. Why not ask for as much as you can get ? Teams are not looking to get rid of salary as much as in the past. Most available players are free agents at the end of the season.

Don't hold your breath on an important trade.

@Joelsherman1

Joel Sherman
#Indians want RH-hit OF but have 3 concerns: 1) Don't feel can mortgage future for what internally think is long-shot playoff chance (cont)

2) open 2d half with 7 at #Redsox, #Rangers and fear chances could crumble there 3) Think will get Sizemore/Choo back in Aug and (cont)

fear new OF would lose playing time to Sizemore/Choo #Indians
2 hours ago
»

When Alex White returns he will pitch out of #Indians bullpen according to Manny Acta.


Twitter for Android • 7/25/11 4:26 PM

Strong Interest In Hiroki Kuroda

By Tim Dierkes [July 25 at 4:06pm CST]

4:06pm: The Tigers, Indians and Rangers are the three hottest teams on Kuroda, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).

1:49pm: Dodgers righty Hiroki Kuroda has generated interest from the Tigers, Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, and Brewers, reported CBS Sports' Danny Knobler yesterday. He noted that the Tigers "have been very interested." This is the first time I've seen the Brewers mentioned for any starting pitcher. The Rangers have also popped up for Kuroda in other reports, and Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweets that the Cardinals inquired.

The Dodgers believe Kuroda can be persuaded to waive his full no-trade clause, wrote Knobler. I am guessing a financial incentive in the $1-2MM range might compel Kuroda to pitch in the midwest or on the East Coast for a few months. Since Kuroda's signing bonus is paid out in 2012-13, $6.6MM of his $12MM contract will be owed to him after the trade deadline. Tack on additional money for the no-trade clause, and renting Kuroda becomes an expensive proposition. Kuroda, 36, has a 3.19 ERA, 6.9 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 0.99 HR/9, and 43.2% groundball rate in 127 innings this year.

I can't believe Dolan would take on $8M payroll.

Alex White in the bullpen to save a starting role for David Huff?

Has White pitched in relief in his career for any extended number of games?

Aren't there already enough bullpen arms almost at the ready on the farm?

Could be they are concerned he won't be able to build up the arm strength to go back into the rotation in 2011.

The Kuroda to Cleveland deal would probably only happen if they find a taker for Fausto.