Joe Blanton
It looks like the A’s are looking to move Joe Blanton. According to mlbtraderumors.com the Reds have inquired and the price is high. They say either Homer Bailey, widely considered one of the top pitching prospects in the NL. Or Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto, and a third player. From 2005-2007 Votto went from high A to AAA, spending one season at each level. In 2007 at AAA he hit 294/381/478 with 22 homers. His k’s were high, but he is still an top hitting prospect. If memory serves he has a leg up for a starting job in the Reds outfield for 2008. That is insane. Bailey is projected to be a contributor in the Reds rotation. So either package demanded by Beane would include a projected ML starter. Joe Blanton is a middle of the rotation starter, solid but not spectatular. Would you give up top young talent for a young version of Kenny Rogers or Jimmy Key or Brad Radke? Seems like the Reds would be dumb to make either of those deals. Bill Beane is like that kid in your fantasy baseball league who proposes really dumb, one sided, trades and tries to convince you its a good deal. “Joe Blanton is set to have a dominant, breakout year, I swear! Give me Reyes and Cabrera for him. It will give you pitching depth.” Shutup Billy Beane.
Update: Joe C notes that the twins are not in conversation with the A’s about Blanton. Good.
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Except that Beane always seems to get what he asks for.
Why is it that teams are afraid of dealing with the Twins, but will continue to deal with Beane, when Beane gets better deals more often?
I’d also like to mention that there’s no way Blanton is worth that much. He’s 27, with a career ERA of 4.10 over 3 full seasons. And he’s never been that far off that. (His consistency is his biggest selling point.)
So should the Reds have to give up a potential ace or a big time slugger for … Kevin Slowey? We already have a handful of guys capable of posting a 4.00 ERA, and they’re not going to cost us anything. I think there’s no way the Twins even consider this deal, and if Beane keeps asking for so much, nobody should.
To “FunBobby” and anyone else that started this blog “FireGardy” - I love it! It will now be one of my routine website stops during the day… I just read over the first page of posts and I couldn’t have said any of it better myself! Thanks for starting another great source of Twins news and opinion that isn’t Jim Souhan or Patrick “what’s a baseball?” Reusse.
Oh, and can we please start a petition to either A) Fire Gardy or B) at least let someone else fill out the lineup card each game - it could be a prize a fan wins at each game!
Keep it up!
I disagree twice:
I think the Twins should pursue Blanton, he has showed flashes of dominance…
Fire Gardy?? Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!
Pursue him at what cost? He is a middle of the rotation starter, and we have many of those waiting in the wings. Dealing with Billy Beane is never a pleasant experience.
I would give the A’s Nick Punto and maybe that Mcdonald guy. Maybe even Span as a though in for Blanton. Flashes of Dominace WHAT. Please what major League Pitcher thats been around the league a few years has not had hot streaks you have to look at the whole career. I live the site keep up the good time.
Obviously Beane would laugh in our faces at that offer, but you’re on the right track. His asking price will be high (as usual), but what he’s selling has a low value, and we need to get out of the running.
He’s worth more than Punto+Span, but not to the Twins.
Of course he would laugh at us but thats all i would give up for that guy.
I’m with you. If we give up anything valuable for Blanton, it’s a mistake.
And I don’t see this as the kind of risk Wild Bill is willing to take. So I’m not that worried about it.