Q and A: Week 12

Q1: What should the Braves do with Dan Uggla for the remainder of the year? How about the remainder of his contract?

- I think that they made the right call by allowing Martin Prado get the everyday gig for the rest of the season. Uggla's stats, with the exception to his home runs, are awful. As for the rest of the year, I'd bench Uggla until he raises that batting average. For the remainder of his contract, I'd try and play him everyday. No team is going to be willing to take on his big contract, expect, the Dodgers of course.

Q2: Should the Rockies go after King Felix or Shields in the off-season?

Absolutely not. The Rockies are rebuilding and giving up their so-called prospects is not a good thing to do right now. Plus, I wonder if someone like James Shields would be able to survive while playing at a place like Coors Field.

Q3: Should the Braves go after Josh Hamilton if Michael Bourn leaves via free agency?

- Eh. Maybe. Hamilton will cost a lot of dough and Atlanta generally doesn't spend that much in the off-season. They'll probably just find a prospect from within the farm system. I expect Hamilton to stay with the Rangers.

Q4: Do the Padres have enough to contend in 2013?

- If you asked me that question a few months ago, I'd probably tell you to stop watching baseball. Actually, I heard, via Ken Rosenthal, that the Padres may spend some money this winter, and if they bring in some free agent arms and keep Chase Headley, I can see the club making a wild-card run in 2013. It's not a ridiculous thought, but I think that everything HAS to go right for the Padres in 2013, and that is unlikely going to happen.

Q5: Should the Nationals take a look at Jacoby Ellsbury this winter?

-Definitely. I believe that Boston will want to get rid of him, because they are rebuilding and he is somewhat injury-prone. We all know that the Nationals have been looking for a centerfielder for the last few years, and Ellsbury would be a clear upgrade over Roger Bernadina, assuming that Harper moves to a corner outfield spot.

Q and A: Week 11

Q1: What should the Blue Jays do to contend in 2012?

- The Jays' offense is solid, as a matter of fact, it's one of the best in the league. Their pitching depth, however, is incredibly thin. I think, in order to get Toronto competing in 2012, all of their young pitchers will have to have good comeback seasons. I'm talking about Drew Hutchison, Kyle Drabek, Brandon Morrow, etc. Pitching will be the key for the Jays. Also, look for them to sign a pitcher like Edwin Jackson, Brandon McCarthy or Anibal Sanchez in the winter.

Q2: Who would you have more faith in, Lohse or Wainwright?

- Definitely Wainwright. I am not a big fan of Lohse. I understand that Wainwright is still recovering from Tommy John surgery but I still have more faith in him.

Q3: Could Jeff Karstens get an extension with Pittsburgh?

- Perhaps. They could lock him at a reasonable price, but I'm still not sold on him. If he continues his solid performance for the remainder of the season, I can see him possibly getting a 2-year, $19 million deal. Nothing overpowering from a baseball standpoint.

Q4: Could Jacoby Ellsbury be in a Braves uniform next season?

- That actually makes perfect sense. The Red Sox will look to get younger and will shop Ellsbury. His value is really low, so Atlanta would probably only have to get rid of one or two pitching prospects. I can definitely see Atlanta going after Ellsbury if Michael Bourn leaves via free agency.

Q5: Could Chris Perez be the Giants' closer in 2013?

- Probably not. I doubt that Perez will be traded, and the Giants still have Wilson, Romo, Affeldt, and a few other options. If I acquired Perez, I wouldn't use him as my closer if I have Wilson on my team. Actually, a good trade scenario would be to send Brett Pill or Brandon Belt to Cleveland in order to get Perez. Cleveland desperately needs a first baseman so a trade like that could be possible.

Q and A: Week 10

Q1: What should the Blue Jays do with Ricky Romero?

- Man, he has been atrocious this year. Romero is under team control through the 2015 season and I expect Toronto to keep him. Hopefully he bounces back next season but if he doesn't, I can see him probably being demoted to the minor leagues. 

Q2: Who wins the AL MVP, Trout or Miguel Cabrera? 

-  If the season ended today, Trout would be the MVP. He is the definition of a five tool player, but Cabrera is an excellent player as well. Cabrera just has some minor flaws in his game, like defense and speed. 

Q3: How much has Greinke's stock fallen since going to the Angels?

- A lot. According to reports, Greinke turned down a $100 million extension while he was in Milwaukee, and I'm sure that he regrets that right now. If the Angels tried to re-sign him, I'm sure that they will give him a deal over $100 million, simply because they gave up some nice prospects to get him. If the Angels have no interest in retaining him, which is unlikely, I can see him getting maybe a 5 or 6 year deal worth $75-90 million. 

Q4: If the Nats turn down LaRoche's 2013 option, what could he get on the open market?

- LaRoche has had a very nice comeback season and is a very good defender. I can see a team like the Dodgers making a push for him. He could be probably get a 3 year deal worth around $21 million. 

Q5: What could a possible Robinson Cano contract look like this off-season?

- Well the Yankees are going to do whatever it takes to retain him, so his contract is going to be scorching. I can see an eight year, $165 million deal happening. 

Q and A: Week 9

Q1: Now that Mathis is locked up for a few more years, should Toronto trade Travis D'Arnaud?

- Nope. Mathis is only going to be the backup catcher, and I expect Yan Gomes to switch to another position. That leaves Arencibia, Torrealba, and D'Arnaud. I still think that Arencibia is going to be traded, perhaps in the winter. Torrealba is gone after the season, and that leaves D'Arnaud as the starting catcher.

Q2: Are the Nationals going to add another starting pitcher when they shut down Strasburg?

- Probably not. Washington's rotation is unbelievable, even without Strasburg. I wouldn't mind if a guy like John Lannan fills in for Strasburg, although I don't entirely agree on the way that the Nationals' front office is handling this situation.

Q3: What could a Jason Hammel contract extension look like?

- Interesting topic. I don't think that Hammel is deserving of a contract extension YET, because I want to see at least another year or two of his dominant performance. If he does get an extension in the off-season by the Orioles, assuming he continues his nice performance, I can see the deal exceeding $40 million over the course of 3-4 years or so. I don't think that that would be right, but that's what I envision a possible deal looking like.

Q4: Should the Giants consider acquiring Vernon Wells now that Cabrera is gone for the season?

- Eh... Depends on the Angels' willingness to eat his gigantic contract. If the Halos take on like 95% of his deal, I'd say that the Giants should try and pursue him. However, there are better options out there than Wells. Normally I'd say Soriano but he seems disinclined to join San Francisco, rejecting a trade to them last month.

Q5: What kind of deal could Brandon McCarthy get in the off-season?

- Health has always been a concern for McCarthy, and I believe that is going to scare several teams away from him. Maybe a 2 year deal worth $18 million? He pitches like an ace but is practically never healthy. Kind of like Josh Johnson.

Q and A: Week 8

Q1: What is ultimately going to happen to Chone Figgins?

- Seattle's front office seems to be upset with Figgins right now, and its about time. If you are a Mariners fan, I'm sure that you want Figgins released or designated for assignment. I don't blame you. I think that Figgins will ultimately get designated for assignment, clear waivers, and get released. The Mariners have a few nice outfielders in their organization and they can't let Figgins take away their playing time.

Q2: What does Michael Bourn's off-season contract look like? And who does he sign with?

- I expect him to re-sign with Atlanta for maybe 5 years, $75 million. That sounds like the right price range. Bourn is an excellent player but he is sort of a risky pickup because he is a guy who relies on his legs too often. If you don't know what I'm talking about, see Carl Crawford and his downfall.

Q3: Just how underrated is Allen Craig right now?

Incredibly underrated. Craig has always been a solid hitter, so I'm not really surprised by his performance this year. Hopefully he finds a position and sticks with it, because St. Louis has been shuffling him around positions over the last few years.

Q4: How many wins will the Astros get this season? 

- They'll probably do worse this year than they did last year. Maybe 50-55 wins is a possibility? I didn't really expect much out of Houston coming into this year so this doesn't surprise me, or any of their fans, at all.

Q5: What should Melky Cabrera's deal look like this winter? 

- If he doesn't re-sign with the Giants, I think his deal could be massive because a team will definitely overpay for him. However, I think he is going to stay in San Francisco and I can see him getting maybe a 4-5 year deal worth about $60 million from them. I think he would be willing to take a minor pay cut in order to stay with the Giants.

Q and A: Week 7

Q1: Is there any chance that Cliff Lee gets traded in August?


- Yeah, I can definitely see that happening. He will definitely clear waivers, since he is earning $25 million over the next three years. I doubt that any team is going to want to take on his huge contract.

Q2: Any chance that Beckett gets traded this month?


- Probably not. I expect him to clear waivers if he gets designated for assignment. He has an attitude problem and he is pitching like crap. I also doubt that a team would want to take on his contract.

Q3: Why didn't the Cubs deal Bryan LaHair?


- I really don't know. He probably won't clear waivers if he got DFA this month, so I'm not sure what Theo was thinking. Maybe LaHair is in Chicago's future plans, but that is unlikely.

Q4: Do you think the Angels will release Vernon Wells anytime soon?


- If you are an Angels fan, I bet you are hoping they do. I honestly doubt it, considering that he is set to make a lot of money over the next few years and releasing him basically does nothing. If anything, I would send him to Triple-A to find his swing again.

Q5: Should the Astros trade Bud Norris this month?


- There is no way Norris is going to clear waivers, so i'd say no.

Q and A: Week 6

Q1: Do you think the A's will acquire Yunel Escobar? 


- They seem to be a good fit for him. Blue Jays have been actively searching for pitching and Oakland would be a great trading partner. It'll probably take a A- prospect or two B prospects to pry Escobar and his team friendly contract out of Toronto.

Q2: Who will be the most aggressive pursuers for Chase Headley?


- I expect the Athletics to end up acquiring him. Now that Arizona has prospect Ryan Wheeler playing the hot corner, I expect them to be out of the Headley sweepstakes. The Yankees could make a bid for him, now that A-Rod is out for a while. I don't expect them to be willing to give up a top prospect to get him however.

Q3: What could the Mets get for Tim Byrdak and Scott Hairston?


- The Mets are looking for major league ready players in exchange for them. I would imagine that they would have a tough time doing that. They could probably get a B- prospect for each one if they bundled them with another Mets player.

Q4: Why haven't the Rockies started their fire sale yet?

- I have this strong feeling that Colorado isn't going to trade that many of their players. I can really only seeing Marco Scutaro, Ramon Hernandez, Jason Giambi and Rafael Betancourt being traded. Also, I believe that Scutaro is a perfect fit for Oakland.

Q5: Should the Angels trade one of their outfielders to acquire some starting pitching/relievers?


- Absolutely! That makes perfect sense and I can see them doing that. Vernon Wells could be shipped out of LA for practically nothing. He doesn't really have much trade value. Peter Bourjos is probably the outfielder that is going to get traded this week. He is currently blocked on the depth chart by Mike Trout. They can't move him to left field or right field because those positions belong to Mark Trumbo and Torii Hunter, respectively.

Q and A: Week 5

Q1: Are the Pirates really interested in Justin Upton? 


- It appears that they are. I don't think they are willing to get rid of Gerrit Cole or Jameson Taillon but I think they would be willing to give up a significant amount of prospects to get him.

Q2: What are the odds that the Marlins deal Giancarlo Stanton?


- I was shocked when I saw those reports the other day. Stanton is an incredible player and is still extremely young. I really doubt Miami is going to trade him, besides, at the moment they can't because he is on the disabled list. So, I'd say less than 5%

Q3: Could Dexter Fowler be traded this month?


- I doubt it. The Rockies GM talked with reporters last month and said Fowler was practically untouchable. I think Colorado will be looking for a big package to trade Fowler, and a team is simply not going to be desperate enough to give it to them.

Q4: Who are the Cubs making available via trade?


- Basically everyone expect Starlin Castro and Brett Jackson.

Q5: Whats the deal with these Carl Crawford trade rumors?


- I don't understand why the Red Sox would trade Crawford, because his value is so low right now and he wouldn't fetch anything in return because of that huge contract. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a report saying that Miami-Boston were talking about sending Crawford to Miami in exchange for Hanley Ramirez and Heath Bell. That is just absurd. I don't think these Crawford trade rumors are valid in any way and I will be very surprised if he gets traded.

Q and A: Week 4

Q1: What team will Carlos Quentin be traded to this month?


- It appears like the Dodgers and Indians are being very aggressive in the Quentin sweepstakes this month, and I think Cleveland is going to wind up getting him. I don't know how desparate the Dodgers are for an outfielder. I think they have bigger needs to fill, and they could just use Juan Rivera for now. The Indians, in my opinion, have the pieces to pry Quentin away from San Diego.

Q2: Could Kelly Johnson be shipped to Detroit for some bullpen help? Maybe Dotel or Benoit?


- For some reason I've always been a huge Kelly Johnson fan and Detroit definitely needs a second baseman. He would be a great fit for the Tigers but I doubt Detroit is going to give up Dotel or Benoit for him. Maybe a young starting pitcher like Drew Smyly, or Adam Wilk?

Q3: Could Reed Johnson and/or Shawn Camp be thrown in to sweeten a possible deal?


- Yes, that is definitely something I'd consider if I was the Cubs General Manager. I'm sure Theo Epstein is going to think of creative ways to gather some prospects this month.

Q4: Should the Cubs make a run at Justin Upton?


- It seems like it would make sense given Upton's age (24). However, I don't think Theo Epstein and Co. will want to sell their beloved farm system for a streaky player like Upton.

Q5: When will Zack Greinke be dealt?


- For some reason the Brewers still think they are in the divisional race so they are holding onto their star players right now. I expect him to be traded within the next two weeks because GM Doug Melvin is going to realize that his ball-club doesn't have enough talent to compete in a pretty tough NL Central.

Q and A: Week 3

Q1: How much trade value do Coco Crisp and Kurt Suzuki have right now?


- Crisp might appeal to some teams that need outfield depth, and Suzuki might appeal to some teams that need a backup catcher. Both of their trade values are extremely low right now, but I expect a team to buy low on both of them.

Q2: What do you expect out of Ben Sheets?


- Sheets, as many of you know, signed a deal with Atlanta a few days ago. Right now, I view him as depth in case another starter gets hurt. I don't think Sheets will find his old form but if he does it will have to be at Triple-A first. So I still expect the Braves to get another starting pitcher. As far as Sheets is concerned, I'm expecting another injury plagued season.

Q3: Should the Tigers look to acquire Kelly Johnson?


- Yes, definitely. If the Jays become sellers, I'd expect Detroit to be all over the Jays about Johnson. The Tigers definitely need a second baseman and Kelly Johnson would be an awesome, underrated acquisition.

Q4: What would Zack Greinke's contract look like this winter?


- Greinke is probably going to get traded, and the team that acquires him will probably want him to sign an extension. If he doesn't get traded, he could probably get a deal looking like 6 years, $110 million contract. It would be a huge risk because of some anxiety issues but the talent is there.

Q5: Should the Blue Jays trade Yunel Escobar to get some pitching help?


- This is a great question, but I doubt it. Escobar has a future with Toronto, and I honestly think, even though GM Alex Anthopoulos says otherwise, that the team is secretly looking toward the future. Escobar has a lot of trade value right now and he is locked up for a pretty good price but I expect him to stay put. 

Q and A: Week 2

Q1: Will Youkilis turn his career around with Chicago?


- This is a tough call because he was so bad for Boston this season. He has had problems staying healthy as you know but I think he will have a mini-bounce back season. I think a .270 batting average with 10 home runs is a realistic possibility. Anyway, I don't think he will turn his career around in Chicago because I don't think he will be in Chicago for that long.

Q2: Do you think the Cubs will trade Bryan LaHair? If so, What kind of return can they expect?


- Yes, LaHair will be traded because he is already in his late 20's and will reach his prime before the Cubs get ready to be contenders again. Obviously, Anthony Rizzo is their future first baseman so Chicago will have to make LaHair an outfielder. Plenty of teams are searching for outfielders so he will definitely be pursued by other clubs. As for the return, I think they will definitely get a one or two mid level prospects, but nothing THAT special. He doesn't really have a track record and seems to be a late bloomer. Whichever team gets him will probably get him as a rental player so I just cant see a team unloading its farm system for him.

Q3: What do you think of the Dodgers' signing of Yasel Puig?


- It's hard to really judge this signing right now. Obviously the Dodgers have made a big commitment by throwing $40 million at him but you never know how these international players will turn out. Right now, in my opinion, this is a huge gamble. Its a high risk, high reward signing.

Q4: Who won the Kevin Youkilis trade?


- Right now, it looks like the White Sox. They got Youkilis, a struggling star, while his value was low for practically nothing. Brent Lillibridge doesn't have a future in Boston and Zack Stewart is a nice addition for Boston and we will see how he develops. I think Zack Stewart's performance will determine the winner of this trade.

Q5: Should the Tigers look to trade for Jed Lowrie?


- Lowrie, in my opinion, shouldn't be available. He has a future in Houston and has had a great year for them. I would be really surprised if they trade him because he is a keeper. The Tigers should definitely look to add a shortstop. Maybe Stephen Drew?

Be sure to check out next weeks Q and A session.

Q and A: Week 1

In this series I will be taking questions and answering them. This is my first post in this series so lets get started.  I'll try to do this every Wednesday. I'll do 5 questions today.

Q1: Now that the Rockies are out of contention, will they be looking to trade Carlos Gonzalez?


A1: No, I don't see that happening. Gonzalez is part of the Rockies' rebuilding process and is a key piece in their future. I think Tulowitzki and Gonzalez are safe and everyone else on the Rockies has a chance on getting traded.

Q2: Any chance the Braves go after Mariners SP Jason Vargas now that Beachy is out for the season?


A2: I can definitely see this happening. Vargas is a cheap option and is still young so the Braves could perhaps sign him to a long-term deal. It probably wouldn't cost too much to acquire the lefty.

Q3: Do the Diamondbacks have a realistic shot at getting Youkilis?


A3: Definitely. I can't see Arizona competing this year but if they start to heat up I wouldn't be surprised if GM Kevin Towers looks at acquiring the veteran Youkilis.

Q4: What could the Phillies get for Cole Hamels?


A4: Two very good (A-) prospects and a mid-level prospect probably. Remember he is a free agent after this season so he would only be a two month rental.

Q5: Who ends up getting Joe Saunders?


A5: Assuming the Diamondbacks are out of it, they will definitely look to deal Saunders. The Pirates and Orioles have been linked to Saunders and I can envision the Pirates as a perfect fit. There are also teams out there like the Blue Jays, Braves and Red Sox who need pitching pretty badly.