Pirates take Davis, Chavez off 40-man

So is this a prelude to the Rule 5 draft or the Jack Wilson trade, or is this just a full moon??

Srsly

Hope this doesn't mean that Joggin' Ronny is going to be the backup.

What I thought was interesting was the rumor that the Tigers may be in on Kerry Wood.

I think that the cash part of the Jack Wilson to the Tigers deal the Pirates cover might play heavily into their interest in Wood.

Strap yourselves in folks her we go....

The move could just be a salary dump too as both players are eligible for arbitration.

What happened to that rumor that Joggin Ronnie was being dealt to the fish??

OMG, I sound like NH, I'm taking his place while he's out shooting Bambi  ; )

I think you are right BK, the fun is about to really begin.

Ohhhhh boy are things starting to simmer.

Let the fun begin, I'm tired of waiting. Trade Jack already.

I wanna see what we got for Christmas!

If we trade Jack now, our big chip is played, sometimes you get coal for Christmas, if he gets moved, it has to be at the right time.  Word is that Tigers are talking to Everett?

I'd like to see a couple of teams bidding on him.

You're right, Bizzy ... I was just trying to open my gifts early again. They always have to beat me away from the tree around here, too.

(Shhhtakkk!) Thanks ... I needed that!

Bizrow--Talking to Everett

Tactical move on the part of the DT....They are telling Everett "Hey we are talking to the PBC about JW".

They have made it clear they were talking to both...Playing chicken as I call it.

There are only 2 teams openly interested in JW...LAD/DT.

Good evening inmates....

so we're freeing up a little room.....does that imply that we are getting multiple players for Jack, or.....?

Hey, Ken!  

I think freeing up space for the Rule 5 draft next week, possibly as well.

Is this where everybody went?  The Jack thread is buried and I didn't have any rattlesnake stories to tell -- one about a coyote maybe some day -- but I'm seeing on the mlb sight that Huntington's going to the winter meetings with a budget and a definite shopping list -- quite a change from last year when he went as the new guy and just met a few folks.  

For the record, it'll be ok with me if they don't get the deal they want for Jack adn wind up keeping him -- but if they do let him go I won't be heartbroken either -- seems like it's part of the plan, and hey, at least there seems to be a plan.

for what it's worhth, and following up on an ealrier post I made this morning, I asked the following question today to BP's Jay Jaffe (and a noted LAD-phile):

[Me}: Jay what's your take on the JWilson rumors? A few months ago I asked Christina what she thought of a JW for Hu deal, and she said the LAD would never do it! Now the rumors are Hu+Young+?; have the LAD soured on Hu, or just desperate for a SS?

Jay Jaffe [BP]: With Ivan DeJesus Jr.'s ascendancy, the Dodgers have soured on Hu a bit, though his problems at the plate last year apparently had something to do with recurrent blurred vision problems that he was loathe to confront (it's possible the language/cultural barrier figured in there somewhere). I don't like the Wilson discussions at all, though. A career .240 EqA at his price tag does nothing for me even as a stopgap because he's just not great defensively.

@BK - good thoughts, have you ever thought of asking Huntington for a job?  Tigers float rumors and play both ends, if PBC wants to move Jack that badly they flinch.

@ baywatch, know just what you mean, but I'm thinking, lets not spoil the GM meeting next week, its early....

Reupped my Sat season ticket plan today, Section 143, Row C, another year of beautiful nights at the best ballpark in America and another year of????

I'm not gonna get a lot of work done next week, you know, it is Christmas.....

DMac <<Rule 5>>

maybe a FA too...........DD?

@bizrow--<good thoughts, have you ever thought of asking Huntington for a job?>

Honest..I sent him my resume after he was at the Gathering event...Never even got a response from anyone within the entire PBC org. I was slightly surprised not even a thanks but no thanks.

@Ken...Ooooohh!  Let's hope so!  

@BK...I finally got a thanks but no thanks email from the PBC on the job I applied for.  Bummer.  :-(

I'm not all that excited yet about the Jack Wilson trade rumors.

The names mentioned just aren't that impressive, and I don't know why the Pirates would do it with the players rumored.

LAD:  Hu and Delwyn Young as the key guys?  Hu is similar to Cesar Izturis, only unproven.  Our on SS prospect Cruz carries a similar profile to Hu.  Young is 27 and yet another 4th OF type.  Why make a trade for these types of players, which the Pirates have in abundance?

Honestly, these are the types of players Dave Littlefield always seemed to chase:  4th OFs and AAAA pitchers.  Come on Neal, get good players or hold on to our own.

Det:  Beyond Rick Porcello, who profiles as an ace and is untouchable, the Tigers dont have any intriguing prospects at all.  Iorg is an interesting SS prospect, but Wilson is supposedly a stopgap until Iorg is ready in Det.  Otherwise, all their prospects profile as RP or 4th OF types.  Again, why make a trade for these types of players, which the Pirates have in abundance.    

Dropping players now is free up space for the rule 5 draft.  Have to space available in case someone you really want becomes available.  Always remember that the great Roberto Clemente was a rule 5 draft choice.  Current players Dan Uggla, Johan Santana, and Joakim Soria were rule 5 draft picks.  

@JAL--Is there a R5 list of players?

Bk

Go here

baseballanalysts.com/.../the_2008_draft.php

After reading what is there click on last week in the first sentence  to see the pitchers

JAL--I remember hearing 21 was a Rule 5, and I know from different historical sources that the Dodgers were trying to hide him, but why in the world didn't they protect him?  Was it different then?  Or was Dave Littlefield's dad in charge?

@JAL--Thanks. Heading there now.

Arriba

The only difference now is that team can protect players for more years.  The Dodgers thought that keeping him on the bench would keep teams from taking him..  It was an attempt to hide in plain sight that failed.

I would love to get a crack at both Eduardo Morlan and Kevin Whelan, though I don't know if the opportunity to get both will be there. Last checked, there was 19 teams without a full 40 man roster, so if that stands, that puts us picking at #4 and as late as #23.

  I really think we could hide Whelan in our pen all season. As for a pure project with upside, I like Morlan. He's going to be a bit of a project though and tough to hold all year if we were to try to get both Whelan and him..

I'm not convinced we're done dealing yet. I would expect that Paulino may be on the move, as well as Jack, so two more spots will become open. Of course, some of the players we get back may have to go on the 40 man too.

     I am curious to see more on the catching prospects out there too. If all you have to do is catch in 25 starts as a back-up, getting another catcher and protecting him in the Rule 5 is easy. That's why Lerud could have been taken. If Paulino is traded, it would almost make sense to look for another young catcher and build catching depth. James Skelton or Bobby Wilson could be one of them. I like Wilson more, as he's built better to be an MLB catcher. Skelton is very small.

So, my guess is (RP) Whelan and (C) Bobby Wilson from the Rule 5.

Stargell

Welcome to the asylum

@Stargell--Also welcome aboard the Asylum. You are now an official Inmate with your 1sr post.

Thanks guys. Long tome fan of the PBC (40yrs) and a huge fan of DK. Since I come to read him here daily, I've been checking in with this forum too. I'll stop in from time to time and chime in with my 2 cents worth.

I just happened to turn on Versus Network...Super Bowl XIII

Burg/Dallas...Man o man were the Steelers a dirty team on defense.  

CRAP I thought that posted on the OS...Sorry.

Stargell

Do chime in anytime you have something to say.  A bit quiet here tonight.

All I am out for the night. Back just long enough at 12:30 to get the ML's posted...See some of you tomorrow @ 1 PM at the Dunkin Donuts in Market Square...

Good night...Thanks for another great day.

Night, BK...catch you tomorrow.

Good night all--wish I could join you this weekend but can't.

Ant's Are Marching LIVE IN CENTRAL PARK

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www.youtube.com/watch