Once Again, We Will Be Selling...

Time to see how this is done by a real General Manager...

For the first time in a long time, we will have a chance to see what a true general manager can do at the deadline...

Catcher --- Doumit, Stays --- Paulino will be on the block although we will get nothing in return, his name has been brought up by a few teams in the past

1st Base --- Laroche --- we can only hope that he is on his way, but again, not much coming back... and to think he scoffed at the Pirates when they offered him an extension??? Dougie on the other hand might be mioving as teams look for veterans down the stretch and he has done himself proud in playing both corners in the infield and outfield

2nd Base --- Freddy has too big of a contract to be moved while dinged up, we need to hope that through a long off season program he will be abck at 100% next season

3rd Base --- Jose will probably be with us through the deadline, he strikes out too much and can not be relied on in the field, not something a playoff team is looking for, would be nice to open the way for Walker, but doubtful

Shortstop --- love Jack and we saw how much we struggled with him gone, but he might be our best chip... has been a good down on a bad team down the stretch, so with Furcal out for then next 6-8 weeks, LA is possible, a great glove and a steady bat will be in demand... what we get back is the real question??? Gomez and Rivas, could both go, if a team is looking for a PH in Gomez or a defensive replacement late in a game with Rivas, but again, a dozen balls might be what we would get back???

Outfield --- Nady is the most likely to go, hearing a lot about the Rays and the deep system, would be nice if he can remain healthy until the deadline, not sure how much we will get back, but might be a good haul, time for Neal to go to work... Bay has played his way back into the Pirates plans or so I think... might be had for the right price, but I am guessing he is staying... Nate needs to stay, wlthough he might be at the height, well a few weeks back might have been his peak trade time, he is a Pittsburgh type of guys, with him and Doumit, we have a couple of guys that the Pittsburgh fans will not only take to, but provide us with the right attitude moving forward...

Starters --- not sure who would want any of them, and I know we have been commenting to how this was a great --- ahhh young staff, but I am thinking that any of them could be had for the right price, I would love to think that Ian and Tom are untouchables as they were last year, but come on, we are not in a position to be like that with any of our pitchers... Zach, Phil and Pat are all available, but likely to remain Pirates...

Relief --- this was a strength going into the year... wow... Marte is the biggest chip here, being a lefty with experience in the playoffs. His mentoring of the young staff has been helpful... I thought he was gone last year, and think he will be gone this year too... Grabow, might be outta here as he is a hard throwing lefty, and he reminds me of the classic trade at the deadline, pitching for a contender one batter at a time into October??? Capps, now injured will be with us and for that I am thankful, like having him even through his struggles at the end of a game... Yates can be had for the right price... it would be nice if he nailed down a few games in dominating fashion in Capps' absence and we sell him 'Hi'... as for the rest, anybody want them, they can have them...

Bench --- Mentioned Dougie, Gomez, Rivas and Paulino, but Michael might be the guy going, showing he has a little power and a capable glove, he might be a short-timer in the Pittsburgh, nice player, might get us a prospect in return???

Well, this year has been a learning experience for the new manager and the new management, let's see how they do here at the deadline as this will give us a glimpse into the off-season...

Not a bad breakdown of things, but the point that many are missing is that everyone of these guys except Marte is under contract/arbitration for 2009. NH doesn't have to deal anyone now, he can wait it out and play his hand to its fullest value. Often that means waiting until the offeseason. Look at all of DL's deadline moves, they essentially have netted next to nothing, particularly when you consider how many players he moved. We only got Freddy because Brandon Lyon ended up hurt, Nady cost us a good reliever and a SP that many would rather have back in Ollie Perez, the Bautista trade only corrected an earlier mistake when he let him go. Once and a while a team overpays for a need player (Reds giving Kearns and F.Lopez away, Marlins dealing Ad.Gonzalez for Urbina), but usually the trading team only gets marginal AA and AAA fodder (J.Chavez for Wells, B.Rogers for Casey, B.Hill for AmRam) in return or even worse they get a Matt Morris.

I wouldn't trade Jack unless you can absolutely abuse LAD or Tampa in a deal. Last year he was worth Jurrjens/Clevlen, this year it has to be more than that (we all saw his value first hand this spring). I would look to deal either Nady (based on peak value) or LaRoche (banking on his hot 2nd half trend) to a contender for a quality SP prospect or a SS prospect. I also would only deal Marte if you can get a lopsided deal, some rumors suggest that TB may offer Wade Davis for Brian Fuentes, Marte is better than Fuentes and I'd do that deal in a minute. I think Paulino is destined to be an offseason trade, because his value will build when teams hit the winter and start looking for hard to find catching depth. I honestly hope Bay is staying, its awfully hard to trade a .900+ OPS guy in his prime for prospects hoping one will pan out to be equally as good. We will all see how it goes over the next 3 weeks, but I don't expect NH to go crazy here.