Kuzul

With the All-Star Game just around the corner, the rumor mill has cooled down, at least for the time being, as we focus our attention to the Mid-Summer Classic.

Once the festivities are over, though, the wheeling and dealing will be in full swing, and with so many clear-cut buyers and sellers, you can expect a good number of deals.

While it is a foregone conclusion that Cliff Lee will be moved, many of the other top players on the trade block could very well see the deadline come and go without switching teams, for one reason or another.

Here are the 10 players that should be traded, but will find themselves still suiting up for their current team come season’s end.

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Here we are just a few days away from the month of July where the sun isn’t the only thing that will be burning hot.

We’ve talked about a lot of rumors over the last few weeks but there could be a few new names added to the fire. Names that were only a glimmer in the eyes of a few general managers around baseball, but after the last few days, that glimmer could turn into a full blown shine.

There are a few teams that may stand with what they have and ride out the rest of the season, but there also could be a few teams that will shock at the trade deadline.

Last year we saw a few surprise moves; it’s only a matter of time before we see who surprises this time around.

Let’s get it.

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As we approach the 2010 MLB All-Star break, there is one topic that always seems to be more attention-grabbing than watching your favorite slugger launch rockets to the moon; one subject that nearly always trumps the festivities of raising money for charity, and playing a single game to determine home field advantage.

MLB trade rumors.

And while every passing year seems to offer at least one major topic of interest, the 2010 season is presenting the fans with not one, but two distinct trade possibilities that have Chatty Cathys everywhere talking up a storm.

The subject of uber-interest has to do with where exactly Seattle Mariner Cliff Lee and Houston Astro Roy Oswalt will wind up before the trade deadline.

But who exactly is the better trade is an even more intriguing question.

I decided to break down the two powerhouse pitchers’ trade value with that same question in mind, and while I WILL NOT delve into the specifics of interested teams, I will instead attempt to simply look at the same areas that interested teams would look at: money, age, skill set, and overall value.

Yes, talking about the interested teams does in fact change the landscape of the debate, but that’s not what I am going for; rather, I am simply trying to show who is the better overall value.

So without further ado, let us meet the two pitchers.

Cliff Lee
31 years old
96-55 with five career shutouts, and a K/9 rate of 6.8
Nine years in the league

Analysis: There is no denying the overall value of someone like Cliff Lee becoming available in trade talks with his irrefutable penchant for managing games, being a force on the mound, and possessing an above-average ability to be a starting rotation leader in more ways than one.

So it’s obviously no surprise that Lee is one of the biggest potential acquisitions out there for teams in need of a true pitching ace.

Lee first grabbed the attention of most in his 2004 season where he lit up the majors with a very impressive 14-8 record despite a curious 5.43 ERA.

Lee followed up that performance in 2005 with an 18-5 record with a much improved 3.79 ERA.

But it was the 2008 season that wound up becoming his banner year (all with the Indians mind you) that really opened up everyone’s eyes as Lee dazzled fans, and baffled nearly every batter he faced going on to brandish a 22-3 record with a 2.34 ERA; a career-best season and a performance that awarded the flamethrower the Cy Young Award.

A year later, however, Lee became the victim of injury and mediocrity, finishing his lengthy career with the Indians sporting a 7-9 record with a 3.14 ERA, causing many skeptics to believe that Lee was nothing more than a fluke; a one-timer; a pitcher who had his fun in the sun and a player who had reached his peak.

It wasn’t until the Philadelphia Phillies scooped him up at trade time did Lee not only bounce back, but showed that he was anything but a fluke going 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA in the regular season—and more importantly—going 4-0 with an astonishing 1.56 ERA with a 7.4 K/9 rate in the postseason for the Phillies.

This season after being traded to the Mariners, Lee had once again dealt with injuries in the early goings only to recover rather nicely where he sits on a 6-3 record with a 2.39 ERA while boasting an almost unimaginable 76 strikeouts to only four walks.

At the end of the 2010 season Lee becomes a free agent, basically making him a high profile rental player who comes at a cheap price. So whether it’s a team looking for a quick shot in the arm, or a team looking to sign a long-term ace, Lee seems to fit the bill and the obvious better choice.

But not so fast.

Roy Oswalt
32 years old
142-80 with six career shutouts and a K/9 rate of 7.4
10 years in the league

Analysis: There is probably no other name more synonymous with the title “workhorse” than Roy Oswalt. No other pitcher in the majors is known more for his durability and penchant for winning than the long time face of the Houston Astros franchise: Roy Oswalt.

Roy Oswalt is a two-time 20-game winner, a six-time double digit winner, a three-time All-Star, and unfortunately as of late, the victim of horrible run support regardless of how he pitches.

Oswalt came out of the gates in his 2001 rookie season pitching lights out and ending the year with a 14-3 record and a remarkable 2.73 ERA showing the world—and Astros fans—what was to come.

Aside from the current season, there hasn’t been a single year where Oswalt threw fewer than 8.0 strikeouts per game.

Despite having less than desirable run support for a good portion of his career, Oswalt still managed to smoke batters on a daily basis.

And even through hard times and injuries, Oswalt still showed he could play through them, or quickly bounce back from them.

Now in 2010, his time in Houston is starting to wear thin, and it was Oswalt who decided it was perhaps time to go.

But there is some dead financial weight associated with Oswalt..

Unlike Lee, Oswalt comes with a heavier price tag (over $25 million residual) which seems to make him option number two to most suitors.

Or does it?

Renting vs. Buying.

As stated before, depending on what team shows interest in each of these pitching powerhouses has a lot to do with this debate, but we’re not here to just talk about the obvious.

The real question comes down to who is the better deal.

Roy Oswalt’s contract is listed at $16 million in 2011 and 2012, which is more money than Cliff Lee has garnered in his entire nine-year career ($23,555,300 in nine years, according to The Baseball Cube).

That’s a lot of meatloaf on the dinner plate.

Cliff Lee’s contract is listed at eight million with a $1 million buyout, which equates to approximately $4.5 million residual that any given team would have to assume for the rest of the season.

Oswalt can be acquired for a minimum of two years right off the bat, giving an interested club flexibility on their future plans, while Lee will ultimately demand a long term contract either right off the bat or at the end of this year.

Oswalt has the proven name, Lee is the curious sleeper.

So just who is the better deal?

The Author’s Take:

Both pitchers are over the age of 30, and while that doesn’t always translate into negativity, the real question comes down to security .

In my opinion, taking Oswalt over Lee (assuming you have quality run support and an ample bench) gives you a pitcher who is comparable in price, but more importantly, a bit more proven.

This is not to say that Cliff Lee isn’t going to do well wherever he goes, but it’s each player’s overall career that is the tiebreaker.

Yes, both pitchers are similar in numbers, but in regard to games played and accomplishments, Cliff Lee unfortunately doesn’t compare in the experience department.

Yes, both pitchers have dealt with injuries, but it hasn’t seemed to have any lasting ill effects on either of their overall performances, showing both to be durable.

Oswalt has been there and done that for 220 plus games; Lee 151.

In the end—whomever you take—you’re going to pay a hefty price for a staff ace who can simply come in and take control, but when you add in reliability, durability, and experience along with the money, the decision basically makes itself in my opinion.

My call: Roy Oswalt is the better deal.

So what’s your call? Leave a comment below, get the debate going and don’t forget to let everyone know why.

Ray Tannock is also an NFL columnist and MLB Editor at Fantasyknuckleheads.com

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Earlier this week, I wrote an article talking about the Mets outfield dilemma now that Carlos Beltran is playing rehab games for the St. Lucie Mets.  I concluded that the best-case scenario would be for the four outfielders to platoon.  I also joked that maybe Angel Pagan should take ground balls at second base, giving Jerry Manuel the ability to play all four outfielders at once.

Though the idea for Pagan to play second is far-fetched, it’s also pretty unwise.

Ruben Tejada is the current second baseman.  Personally, I am a big fan, largely because of his spectacular defense.  Tejada is a natural shortstop, who has stepped in at second and played like he has been a second basemen all of his life.  Mets announcer Gary Cohen can’t help but marvel every game at Tejada’s ability to turn double plays, and make hard plays look easy. 

Undoubtedly, a good offensive player will win a spot over a good defensive player most of the time.  For that, I had expected that hypothetically, if Manuel had to choose between Tejada and Pagan, he would choose Pagan.  Tejada, however, is proving to be a better offensive player than we had thought.

The twenty-year-old Tejada is currently hitting .264 with a .328 OBP.  While these numbers are only mediocre, that is not what impresses me.

What I am impressed by is his consistency; he currently has a nine-game hitting streak, and has gotten a hit in 13 of the 16 games he has started this year!  His 11 runs scored also means that he has scored more than half of the times that he has reached base.

Tejada is the future, and his playing time and at-bats are a valuable experience for him to improve an offensive game that, mixed with superb defense, will make him a good player for years to come.

So if Tejada is not taken out of the lineup for Pagan, that still leaves the Mets with four outfielders.  While platooning outfielders is still the most likely option, I have a suggestion.

Why don’t the Mets consider trading Carlos Beltran?

Despite his relative inability to stay healthy recently, he undoubtedly has the highest trade value of all of the outfielders.  If the Mets want to snag a pitcher before the July 31 trade deadline, maybe they should consider shopping Beltran for a Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt.

Beltran is 33, and becomes a free agent after the 2011 season.  He is due $18.5 million this year and next.  His hefty price tag and questionable health may be question marks for teams who are looking to unload payroll by trading their superstars, but at the same time, Beltran is still a very talented player, whom every team wouldn’t mind having at the top of their lineup.

For the Mets, unloading Beltran would give them a little bit of financial flexibility to resign a newly acquired pitcher.  Also, trading Beltran would allow the Mets to keep their current core of youth intact.  They would be able to acquire a pitcher while keeping their prospects, as well as the players who have led the Mets to a 42-31 record.

I hate to see a starter lose his job to injury, but at the same time, I hate the prospect of breaking up the current team, which has been a tremendously pleasant surprise in 2010.  You know what they say, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Now, I have to admit that I don’t think a Beltran trade is very likely, or even on the mind of the Mets brass.  Beltran has a full no-trade clause, teams would be skeptical about picking him up after his knee surgery, and trades of this caliber rarely take place.

But the idea makes sense, and swapping Beltran for a pitcher of equal pedigree could catapult the Mets into the playoffs.

What do you guys think?

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Good day to all of you baseball fans. We still have a little more than a month before Major League Baseball’s trade deadline, and the rumors are flowing hot and heavily.

Not only are players moving, but you have Fredi Gonzalez getting fired in Florida because apparently no one is really good enough to manage the Marlins.

A few days ago we found out that the Texas Rangers were all but taken out of the Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee sweepstakes because a judge’s ruling in court over the bankruptcy proceedings.

There’s a ton going on, a lot of rumors to cover, players on the move, and so much more.

Who’s going, who’s staying, who’s going to make the biggest splash, who will be winners and losers, and who will shock us all?

Let’s get to it…

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While talk around the baseball world is whether the New York Mets will make a trade for a top-end pitcher like Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt, the players themselves are taking somewhat of a laissez-faire approach to the whole rumor mill circus.

While everyone acknowledges what another ace like Lee or Oswalt could do for the rotation, the players on the field are somewhat more muted in their expectations, saying the team will continue to play hard and challenge for National League honors with or without a trade.

Just 24 hours after Johan Santana reportedly said he’d like to see the Mets progress a big name hurler to help strengthen the pitching staff, Santana took a step backwards on Tuesday by saying he is happy with the state of the club as it is, and that it’s entirely up to the front office.

“I never said they are going to [deal for a pitcher],” Santana said during pre-game warm ups. “If the front office wants to improve the team there’s nothing wrong with that; it’s always good when you improve your team. We feel good with what we have right now.”

Santana’s thoughts were echoed by left fielder Jason Bay who said that while every team in the league wants to get better and improve, it’s not going to be a deal-breaker when the final standings start to take shape in late September.

Bay added: “I think any team in the big league wants more pitching, there’s no doubt about it. Any team would probably like a little bit more, so if you can get a premier guy like that it will make us that much better.

“I think a lot was made of wanting another guy, but that doesn’t mean it has to happen. We’re doing well with the guys we have. The guys we have right now are doing pretty well and that’s no slight to them. They are a huge reason why we’re here. Without those guys filling in—not just the numbers they have, but the innings they’re giving us—we wouldn’t be here, so they deserve as much credit as the Johans and the Pelfs.”

The players know the decision rests firmly with the management and owners, and most seem content to let the trade dealing scenarios play out in the background.

“It’s up to them,” first baseman Ike Davis said.  “Anything that they feel will help the team is up to them. Right now we’re playing pretty well and…the GM will do what [he] needs to do.”

With so many rumors swirling around in the media, Jeff Francoeur says it often detracts from what the current crop of players are doing on the field. Still, Francoeur—as he always seems to do—lightened the mood in the dugout Tuesday afternoon when he said with a smile, “Bring them both,” referring to Oswald and Lee.

“We’d love to see them both, but that’s managament’s job. But the way we’re playing I’m sure they’re going to give us something. I’m sure they’ll boost this team up and give us something to work with and go forward, but until then we got a great team with what we’ve got, and you keep fighting with what you’ve got.”

“If we’re able to land one of those guys that’s great because it’s only going to help us, but if you worry too much about that you get off beat with what with we’re doing here. Right now that’s winning games with the team we got and the players we have. If it happens, good we’ll welcome it, but until then we’ve got to keep going.”

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Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum has started 104 games in his career. In those 104 games, eight have been against the Houston Astros.

And in those eight games, Lincecum has faced off against long-time Astros ace Roy Oswalt six times.

That’s 75 percent.

In baseball, with all the maneuvering that goes on, the roster turnover and the random off-days, the chances of a pitcher even facing the same team a few times over the course of the season is rare — much less having the rotation line up so that the same pitchers pitted against each other every time.

But Lincecum and Oswalt share more than just a few box scores with each other. They share a reputation. They break the mold, they lead their team, and they dominate opposing hitters.

They were both passed upon by many teams because of their small stature, and have emerged as two of the most elite pitchers of the decade.

This slideshow will be a recap of their six meetings so far, so get ready for a walk down memory lane.

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You know by now that there are two pretty appetizing starting pitching options on the Mets’ radar right now. 

Those two, obviously, are Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt.  Both are outstanding pitchers on underachieving teams that are trying to dump them in order to clear payroll or to acquire young talent. 

But which one is better for the Mets, both for now and down the road?

If this Mets team was a World Series or bust team, the decision would be pretty apparent: Cliff Lee.  He’s comparable to Johan Santana in how he can dominate a game, and would add a third lefty to go along Santana and Jon Niese, in a division with lefty sluggers such as Chase Utley, Jason Heyward, and Ryan Howard.  Add Mike Pelfrey to that mix, and you have a deadly starting rotation. 

But right now, the Mets are not a World Series or bust team.  They’re a team that has a legit shot at a postseason birth, both this year and in the years to come.  Remember, outside of Rod Barajas, all the important cogs in this Mets lineup and starting rotation will still be here. 

For a Mets team that could make some noise for a while, it makes more sense to go with a pitcher that gives the Mets more roster security.  That pitcher is Roy Oswalt. 

The thinking behind this is that the Mets would get more value for their dollar if they go after Oswalt, who is under contract until after the 2011 season with a team option for 2012.  He’d most likely cost fewer prospects than Lee. 

The biggest downfall on the Mariners ace is his contract is up after this year, making him a free agent.  It’s hard for the Mets to justify sending three or four good prospects to Seattle for only three guaranteed months of Cliff Lee.

Now, I can’t argue that Oswalt is a better pitcher than Lee.  Lee is more consistently dominant, and all of his numbers outside of strikeouts so far this season are better than Oswalt’s.  We’re talking WHIP, walks, ERA, BAA, everything.  The facts lie in the stats. 

That said, Oswalt is a better option than Lee.  While not up to par with Lee this season, the fireballer would still fall in very nicely behind Santana and Pelfrey. 

Oswalt is more likely to become a Met for two reasons: One, is that his contract extends past this season, and two, he would cost a reasonable amount less to acquire than Cliff Lee would.  It’s completely feasible the Mets could pass on Lee this summer, acquire Oswalt, and then court Lee in the offseason.

We’ll find out which way the Mets will go relatively soon. There are reports out of Seattle that Lee might make his final start for the Mariners as soon as Wednesday.  Oswalt has yet to rescind his request to be traded. 

The trading deadline is about five weeks away.  The Mets have two targets sited.  It’s just a matter of whether they play it safe or take a little gamble.

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As we near the All Star Break, divisions begin to take shape and the contenders and pretenders begin to separate. At this time, general managers begin to look over their teams in search of what they may need for the stretch run.

In this three part series, I will examine the best available talent at this year’s trading deadline. I will outline salaries and future status as well, giving you an idea of their worth going forward.

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As the MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching, we have a greater idea of which teams will be buyers and which will be sellers.

One of the biggest commodities during the trade deadline will be starting pitching.

No team can have enough pitching and with all six divisions being decided by six games or less, the races are closer than ever.

A good starting pitcher can mean the difference between a team ending its season in disappointment and a team reaching the playoffs. 

Besides Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt, two of the more interesting pitching options on the market are Jake Westbrook of the Cleveland Indians and Ben Sheets of the Oakland Athletics.

Both of these pitchers have the talent to be a second or third starter and will cost considerably less than Lee or Oswalt.

It is very likely that both of these pitchers will land in the National League East.

The Mets, Braves, and Phillies are all in a tight playoff race and all three teams lack depth in their starting rotations.

If I had to guess, I would predict Ben Sheets will end up in New York and Jake Westbrook will have a new home in Philadelphia.

The Mets expressed interest in Ben Sheets during the off-season and he could provide the team some much needed pitching depth.

It is unlikely R.A Dickey and Hinsori Takahashi will continue their hot starts while John Maine and John Niese are still injury risks.

Signing Ben Sheets would give the Mets a pitcher with great raw talent.

The Mets realized Sheets isn’t a polished pitcher but his potential down the stretch, combined with his recent successes, will make him a viable option for New York.

Ever since losing J.A. Happ to an early season injury, the Phillies have been looking for pitching help.

The team has recently contacted Pedro Martinez about returning for the second half of the year.

Although Pedro Martinez has plenty of playoff experience,he does not have a great deal of velocity. I question his ability to pitch quality starts week after week without breaking down.

For the right price, Pedro may be worth a chance but Jake Westbrook is a much safer bet for the team.

Westbrook has a career ERA under four and is less of an injury risk.

The reason why I don’t see the Braves landing Westbrook or Sheets is because I think they are the front runners to land Cliff Lee.

Unlike the Mets and Phillies, the Braves lack a number one starting pitcher (the Mets have Johan Santana and the Phillies have Roy Halladay). Cliff Lee can be that answer.

Lee pitched brilliantly last year in the playoffs and would provide the relatively young Atlanta Braves roster with some much needed postseason experience.

Although Roy Oswalt is a likely target for all three of these teams, it is doubtful any of them will get the Astros hurler.

Oswalt is a long-term commitment, unlike the aforementioned three starters and has a no trade clause.

This combination of factors will most likely not land him in the National League East.

It will be interesting to see how the NL East shapes up in the next few weeks.

It will be a tight race until the end and all three contenders will look to the pitching market to gain a competitive advantage.

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