Sunday 9 March 2008

Start spreading the news


Ken Rosenthal continues to spread rumours that Johnson will be traded. However, to protect Johnson from realizing he's available (cause that's just how Rosenthal Rolls), he refuses to add his name in any of the rumours.

The Mariners continue to look for a veteran right-handed hitting outfielder, major-league sources say, indicating that club officials are less than satisfied with the four players competing for their final outfield spot — Wladimir Balentien, Charlton Jimerson, Mike Morse and Jeremy Reed.

Jimersen and Morse, who are out of options, must clear waivers for the Mariners to send them to the minors. Reed is a left-handed hitter, and the Mariners' preference is a right-handed complement for their two corner outfielders, Raul Ibanez and Brad Wilkerson.

They want a platoonable RH hitting OF. I'm sure we have a couple of those types lying around. Maybe we can convince them that Stewart is the better of our 2 RH platooned OF - I mean, after all, his career OPS against righties is better...

Rosenthal continues to spread rumours, this time about the Cubs:

The Cubs' desire to add Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts and a right-handed hitting platoon partner for center fielder Felix Pie stems in part from their inexperience up the middle.

Pie and catcher Geovany Soto are rookies, and shortstop Ryan Theriot is entering his second full season. Japanese right fielder Kosuke Fukudome also is a rookie, at least by major-league standards.

I realize Ken suggested the RH platoon partner COULD come from Baltimore. But if the Jays step in and trade a RH OF, and get back a decent prospect, they accomplish two goals:

1) Slow down Baltimore's rebuilding process

2) Trading Stewa-....Oh right, I mean trading Johnson. Sorry about that - some stupid part of me wants to see Stewart traded first. Alright, got that out of my system.

Well, that's it for Rosenthal's rumours, but clearly there are several teams that are in need of a veteran, right handed, platoon partner. Keep spreading those rumours, Ken!

Twitchy.

1 comment:

The Southpaw said...

Just noticed on MLBTR that Angels OF Juan Rivera is on the block, too. The dude is capable of putting up Alex Rios numbers with the bat, hits lefties and righties equally well, and will make about as much as Reed.

Why the hell aren't WE trading for him?

JW