Day Two buzz from Winter Meetings
If you missed Day One of the baseball winter meetings, I’m afraid you didn’t miss much.
The biggest news from yesterday that actually solidified into a couple of signings was Ivan Rodriguez signing with the Washington Nationals (WTF?) and Brad Penny inking a one year deal with the Cardinals which could be worth upwards of $9 million dollars (double WTF).
The latest Roy Halladay rumour that has been cooked up is Doc going to the Tampa Bay Rays for B.J. Upton and pitching prospect Wade Davis. In turn, since the Jays already have an overpaid unproductive centre fielder, they would trade Upton to another team and gain some more prospects that way.
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t count on this trade having legs because it does not fulfill the first Roy Halladay requirement, which is a chance to win. Yes, the Rays have posted back to back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history, but they are not going back to the World Series any time soon.
The Rays obviously train and play the regular season in Florida, however that is secondary on the priority list for Doc. Members on both sides of the Jays and Rays blogosphere are shaking their heads in disbelief at the thought of this trade, and so are the experts.
Sad to say this, but we will miss the sprinting power of Rod Barajas next season. He officially declined arbitration and according to MLBTR is being targeted by the Kansas City Royals. My personal favourite Barajas moment is pictured left – you can relive the magic over at the Te of Inglett.
Doc to Tampa? That sound you heard was my ovaries exploding. Or not, since it's still rumor. It would be rough to lose Davis though, he's a great prospect, I could go either way on Upton.
there's my 2 cents from a Jays and Rays fan. 🙂
I actually think that this rumoured Davis and Upton offer may be the best offer yet. I actually wouldn't mind keeping Upton and putting him or Vernon in RF. He would sure take care of that vacant hole in the leadoff spot.
Curtis Granderson going to the Yankees scares the baby Jesus out of me. If you look at his home/road splits, he was a machine on the road, I can just imagine how good he would be in Yankee stadium.
So far, it's been pretty quiet. Please AA, throw us a bone, give us a Scott Downs trade or something…PLEASE!!!
DS, normally I would say exploding ovaries is an adverse side effect, but in this particular case I can understand your excitement. So long as they can work out something that benefits both of your favourite teams, we'll all be happy.
Peter D, it WOULD be a good deal for the Jays – however, the problem is that AA is insistent on keeping Wells in CF, so there's almost no chance of moving Upton there. Upton would provide some great pop and be a huge threat to steal bases – something the Jays have missed for a LONG time.
I hope the Yankees don't get Granderson – they're deadly enough as is. All this trade talk involving Tigers players makes me wonder why their management wants to sell the farm all of a sudden? Granderson, Jackson and Cabrera have all been actively shopped.
I would not be nearly as heartbroken if Doc goes to Tampa.
…and Hot Rod's belly flop into home plate was awesome. I forgot about that.
Roy to the Rays is the best pretend trade I've heard so far.
Rod Barajas 'sliding' into home plate: I remember that play thinking he looked like a whale trying to beach itself. We will definitely miss his speed on the base paths.
LJ, out of all the destinations for Roy to be traded to, I agree that sending him to Tampa Bay would be the less evil out of all the options.
Mattt, Barajas motoring from first to home plate was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. And if I remember correctly, he did it again a few nights later.
One thing's for sure though – Rod Barajas would be Bengie Molina in a 100 metre dash – hands down.