the pinjockey

Ok if the deal includes both Clippard and Duncan and they haven't announced it yet as their game in Trenton is still going then it is still awful but a little more reasonable. Edit: the other two players from the GCL C Jesus Sanchez RHP Carlos Monasterios ugh

So Bored, what is your sales pitch on becoming an Athletics fan, as I may be looking for a new team. Hell, I am kind of hoping for al to talk me off the ledge here, but he may be on his way to CBP at this point with a sawnoff looking for Gillick.

The salary dump concept is ridiculous. a.) This is not a small market team, they can afford his salary b.) Gillick himself has said he does not believe in big money to FA pitchers (so no Zitos coming here). So the whole idea of "well he is really trading Abreu for the ace he will sign this offseason" is faulty. c.) Abreu is better than any position player who is going to be on the FA market this year anyway. So it would be pointless savings

Besides the fact Henry is 20, not 18. 18 and not hitting in the Sally league is workable, 20 and not hitting is not. I apologize to everyone for having a bit of a freak out here but well yeah.

Honestly, if this is the deal and the list doesn't include a choice of Hughes/Tabata/Clippard/Duncan then it puts anything Wade did to shame. Even if Clippard and Duncan are on the list it is still awful. To go into the trade deadline with a player of Abreu's caliber and the best pitcher on the market and come out with this is just......I really can't think of a bad enough word. They still probably have to move Dellucci to come out of this trading season with something of real value.

The tone of Olney's bit about Burrell saying no to Baltimore twisting their arm into moving Abreu is what has me really nervous right now. Hopefully he was just overstating, but since they are talking about a tentative deal now there is at least some actual information floating at this point. Where is hanging oneself smiley face when you need one?

God I am going to be sick until they announce what is coming back. They're killing me here.

According to the Phillies pre-game show Abreu has been pulled from the lineup.

Yeah, that rumor made me long for the Clippard,Duncan,Proctor and Cabrera for Lidle/Abreu rumor. Even though I am not a fan of that one, at least something resembling talent is coming back. Especially given reports of how Boston and the two NY teams don't need to pick up the option for Abreu to waive his NTC. There is no excuse for not getting quality back from those teams now. Wow, CJ Henry, it's like Greg Golson in SS flavor.

I wonder if anyone has actually talked to Abreu to see what it would take to wave his NTC. Everyone talking head says he would definitely want the extension picked up, yet only one person has actually quoted him (Randy Miller, local beat write) about the issue and Abreu seemed open to lowering his expectations depending on where he would be going. Given he has a house in NY, you would think that the Yankees would be one of his higher choices. Maybe all it would take to send him to the Yankees would be to give him a few million to buy out the NTC (have to give him something to pacify the union). Then all of a sudden there isn't the panic about having to pick up 18 mil in 08 and a deal could be much simpler.

Dear Ask Al, Do you have the same nagging sense of dread that I do about the next 48 hours? I am thinking there is a little too much smoke about a lesser Abreu deal for there not to be some fire nearby.

Just going off what I someone on another board's paraphrasing, but Gillick said in a post game press conference that they want to see Nunez play more. Hopefully it was just lip service and they plan on bringing Ruiz up to free up Coste or planning on acquiring the 3B of the future in a subsequent move, but Nunez might be the plan. Maybe they will sign Gouriel to play third? What's that snickering?

David Bell to the Brewers for a minor league reliever Wilfrido Laureano. I thought Bell's decent run here might have bumped his status enough to get more than roster filler back but oh well. Of course that now results in........."And now starting at 3B for the Phillies, Abe ".150/.186/.221/.408" Nunez"

I can't see them getting much more later, because it appears they were looking for major league players. Prospects might get increased as the deadline approaches, but anyone trading for Lee wouldn't be looking to move better pieces of their 25 man roster at this point.

The signings of those relevant to Bunkley, Cutler (11th) and Wimbley (13th) got six, Michael Huff (7th) got five. He needs to just sign for the six and be done with it. Another problem, though, is that they are gunshy about how the Eagles do business with the young players. They don't like how Shawn Andrews is already signed through 2015 and they think signing for five years instead of six will give them leverage. I don't understand the point though. If the Eagles come to you to talk about restructuring and Bunkley doesn't want to at the time, the player is allowed to say no.

That seems pretty awful for the Brewers. Cruz is the same age as Nix and putting up better numbers in AAA, Mench is mediocre and Cordero is fine but that hardly sounds like a package worthy of your key trading chip. Looks like they may have made a less than stellar move just for the sake of getting back players they can use this year to "make a run". Of course Lee going to a team not in the Abreu running makes me happy.

$11 million of it is guaranteed. There is no doubt that there is a gamble involved here. And if any team fails with a top 5 pick QB they are going to be set back for years (see Smith,Akili; Couch,Tim; etc.). My point, though, is that it really isn't the Titans' "fault" that this contract was this high. He was a QB picked no. 3, you are committed to a big deal. Compare to last year's draft. Last year's no 3 pick was Braylon Edwards, he signed for $40 million with $20 million guaranteed as a WR (who tend to get less). Also compare it with Cutler's slot. Last year's 11th pick was DeMarcus Ware, he got $13 million with $10 million guaranteed, as a DE (position priced at a premium usually). Last year's 10th pick was Mike Williams, he got $13.5/$10.5. Nominal difference at best compared to Ware as WR isn't paid at the premium other positions are. Last year's 9th pick was Carlos Rogers, he got $17.5 million. I can't find his bonus. Still a noticeable difference between 9-10 and 10-11, as CB is typically a premium paid position as well. So back to looking at Edwards getting $20 mil guaranteed. Considering the typical yearly increase (Cutler's 10% guaranteed increase over Ware) + a premium position increase (DE,CB,QB,OT usually as well) and the Young deal isn't out of line. Sorry if this rambles a bit, but I am looking over my shoulder at work doing this.

Because he is a QB. They get paid more. Look at the deal Cutler got as the no. 11 pick. That is why taking Bush no.1 was a signability issue. Because he reportedly wanted a raise over last year's number one and that was a problem because it was "QB money".

That is a given though, when you draft a QB top 5. That is the price you pay. If you disagree with the system that causes that to happen is one thing, but the Titans didn't really do anything out of the ordinary.

Amusing/Sad bit about Ryan Franklin: Two points about this: a.) so other teams are going to be impressed by the fact he throws a pitch he knows is ineffective and hand him a starting job? b.) fuck him. His role is to be a reliever this season. He got a bit of a hose job when Adam Bernero was brought up for a spot start, but get over it. That attitude would certainly make me want to sign him up for my team. "Well this is the role I want next year, so that is what I am trying to accomplish."

As of now: David Wright - 1 Jim Thome - 7 Jeremy Bonderman - 9 Justin Verlander - 19 Considered keeping Martinez there given that most decent catchers will be kept, but Thome + 2nd round pick is better IMO than Martinez + 7th round pick.

Wait til next week and I am sure in the Philly Inquirer he will write an article discussing needing young players for Iverson. He is the biggest joke in the Philly area.

That is the point, though. If they were getting offered a package of young players and a bad contract (read: Boston trade King wanted to make), then we wouldn't be having this discussion as Iverson would already be on a flight to his new team. There is a difference between rebuilding with newly acquired young players (perfectly acceptable, what most Sixers fans are pleading for actually) and punting the season entirely for a draft pick (this is what can not happen, no Barkley deals again).

In King's defense, he was reportedly trying to pull the trigger on a deal with Boston before the draft that would have netted them the 7th pick+ and Ainge didn't make it happen. Since that didn't happen, if the offers haven't been good (see Denver's "any two players excluding Carmelo" deal) then they should just keep him. No point in flat out giving him away.

Would you take less for Abreu and/or Burrell if you could get Dellucci signed to at least a one year extension and could plug him in? Also, if they move either one and get the almighty salary relief would you really bust slot and sign Kyle Gibson and Josh Thrailkill? It would mark a big financial commitment to this draft, but if you can essentially buy two high round picks with found money then why not.