Put them all on the market

[nate82]

The Rays are not a fit. They are scaling back their payroll next year adding Fielder wouldn't accomplish that.

[PrinceFielderx1]

The Rays are not a fit. They are scaling back their payroll next year adding Fielder wouldn't accomplish that.

They could always trade Fielder after this season. Plus, isn't it the goal for any major league team to get to the WS? By trading for Fielder this season they would accomplish that. They would be the clear favorites.

[RockCoCougars]

I'm not trading Fielder unless I get at least one pitcher who has some track record of success in the majors. This is why any deal with him involved will likely have to happen in the offseason. I'm not moving him for just a couple of 'prospect' arms. I'd rather let him walk.

[endaround]

You're not getting any top flight major league pitcher with little service time for Fielder.

[Invader3K]

I'm not trading Fielder unless I get at least one pitcher who has some track record of success in the majors. This is why any deal with him involved will likely have to happen in the offseason. I'm not moving him for just a couple of 'prospect' arms. I'd rather let him walk.

So you wouldn't take one really good AAA pitcher who is on the cusp of getting called up, but is perhaps blocked?

[rcon14]

I'm not trading Fielder unless I get at least one pitcher who has some track record of success in the majors. This is why any deal with him involved will likely have to happen in the offseason. I'm not moving him for just a couple of 'prospect' arms. I'd rather let him walk.

So you wouldn't take one really good AAA pitcher who is on the cusp of getting called up, but is perhaps blocked?

ala Jeremy Hellickson. Would love to get him in a package of prosepects from TB for Prince.

 

[RockCoCougars]

I'm not trading Fielder unless I get at least one pitcher who has some track record of success in the majors. This is why any deal with him involved will likely have to happen in the offseason. I'm not moving him for just a couple of 'prospect' arms. I'd rather let him walk.

So you wouldn't take one really good AAA pitcher who is on the cusp of getting called up, but is perhaps blocked?

No way. How many 'really good AAA pitchers' flame out? I would guess that most do. If the value of pitching is so high that you can not get a young, above average starter with some MLB experience for a guy who can hit 50 homers in a season, I'd prefer to just let Fielder walk.

[TooLiveBrew]

You'd prefer to let him walk so you can, at best, get a supplemental draft pick or two that's proven absolutely nothing? There are plenty of examples of good pitchers that are blocked & stashed in AAA. Whether they have a Track Record™ or not is of no concern to me, I'm concerned with whether or not they have good velocity & stuff.

[rcon14]

I'm not trading Fielder unless I get at least one pitcher who has some track record of success in the majors. This is why any deal with him involved will likely have to happen in the offseason. I'm not moving him for just a couple of 'prospect' arms. I'd rather let him walk.

So you wouldn't take one really good AAA pitcher who is on the cusp of getting called up, but is perhaps blocked?

No way. How many 'really good AAA pitchers' flame out? I would guess that most do. If the value of pitching is so high that you can not get a young, above average starter with some MLB experience for a guy who can hit 50 homers in a season, I'd prefer to just let Fielder walk.

Umm, obviously the kid would have to be a top prospect in an organization and I'd much rather take the AAA guy who's proven himself in the pro ranks (plus we'll get more than one kid) than two draft picks who have proven nothing beyond the amateur ranks.

 

 

[TheCrew07]

I don't care about "proven" at all, I want talent.

[crewcrazy]

The Rays are not a fit. They are scaling back their payroll next year adding Fielder wouldn't accomplish that.

They could always trade Fielder after this season. Plus, isn't it the goal for any major league team to get to the WS? By trading for Fielder this season they would accomplish that. They would be the clear favorites.

I think the Mark Teixeira situation fits (again) when addressing this. Brewers fans are going to be demanding that the Brewers get the equivalent of what the Rangers got for Teixeira. Any team thinking about possibly renting Fielder for the stretch run and flipping him this offseason or at the deadline next year are terrified that their return will be as bad as what Atlanta got for Teixeira. Further hurting the Brewers' chances of getting a deal like that is the fact that Teixeira was a lot more valuable than Prince will ever be -- Tex also has the reputation of playing Gold Glove-caliber defense, while Prince is DH-only.

 

Do the Rays want to make the World Series this year? Sure. But the way they've been playing without Prince this year, I'm not sure they think they need him. The only context I can see the Rays being interested in a Prince/Hart package is if they see them as replacements for Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford, but even then, the Brewers duo will be more costly to have under contract next year and they'd only be in town for one more year. The Rays are simply too smart and too conservative for that.

[brewmann04]

There should be no question the Brewers should be sellers but the question is what players could return the needed influence of Young Arms

[TheCrew]

Do the Rays want to make the World Series this year? Sure. But the way they've been playing without Prince this year, I'm not sure they think they need him. The only context I can see the Rays being interested in a Prince/Hart package is if they see them as replacements for Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford, but even then, the Brewers duo will be more costly to have under contract next year and they'd only be in town for one more year. The Rays are simply too smart and too conservative for that.

Pena is making $10.125 million this season and Crawford is making an even $10 million as well - both in the final year of their contracts. Crawford is almost guaranteed to leave in FA and will be replaced by Jennings. That is over $20 million off the books next season and you have to figure that Hart and Prince won't cost much more than that (chance they could end up being cheaper).

 

I could see the Rays making a "CC" like trade for Prince - you have to figure that even in Tampa, it would draw some more people to the ball park. Jennings is probably untouchable, but Hellickson and a few of their other top prospects would be ideal.

 

The only real hit financially for the Rays would be this season with paying the pro-rated amounts due to Hart/Fielder - it's actually a pretty darn good fit and Pena has been on fire lately, but they could DH prince or pena on any given night. (and even with Pena's tear lately, he is still only hitting .196)

[nate82]

Prince is making $10.5m this year and Hart is making $4.8m. You can expect Hart and Prince both to get raises next season at equal to what Crawford and Pena were making this year combined it won't be cheaper. Also the Rays are looking to be bringing their payroll down next year from this years amount so no I don't see the Rays trading for Prince and Hart. Hart all by himself maybe.

[TheCrew]

Yeah, your right about it being cheaper - really no chance of that happening. They have a ton of money coming off the books next year though - Burrell and Soriano come off, freeing up another $16 million. So I don't really see money being the issue with Prince/Hart, even if they want to reduce payroll next season. It's more a question if they feel they even need them since they have the best record in baseball or if they would want to give up the prospects.

[endaround]

The owner has said he was cutting the team to the bone after this year. Basically shelling up until he gets a new stadium.

[Invader3K]

I think Crew makes a good point that giving up prospects is probably a bigger immediate concern for the Rays than the financial aspect of a Fielder trade.

[TheCrew]

The owner has said he was cutting the team to the bone after this year. Basically shelling up until he gets a new stadium.

I tried searching for this and the only thing I could find is that he said they've overspent the past 2 seasons and their payroll won't be 70 million and it won't be 60 million - that could also just be posturing for the new stadium.

 

They've got 36 million coming off the books between Pena, Crawford, Burrell and Soriano. That is half of their current payroll - Maybe they don't make a move for Prince and Hart, but I think Prince makes a lot of sense for them as they could just let Pena walk next season then. They've got some guys coming up for arby that should get pretty good raises, but Garza is probably the only one that is going to get a significant raise. So even if they added Prince, and he made $15 million next season, they'd still be dropping $21 million off the books minus the arby raises. They should still be able to keep it under $60.

 

I really don't see money as the issue for them - it's more about whether or not they would be willing to give up the prospects and I still have to think that if they traded for Prince, that would draw some additional fans - even in that market.

[gobrew23]

http://www.raysindex.com/2010/05/2011-tampa-bay-rays-40-man-roster-and-payroll.html

 

The Rays definitely won't have the money to take on Fielder and Hart next year. They plan on keeping the payroll under $60 million. The link above breaks down their estimated payroll for next year. They have it estimated at approximately $48 million after pay raises through arbitration -- and that is assuming they don't resign ANY of there free agents(Carl Crawford, Rafael Soriano, Carlos Pena, Grant Balfour, Pat Burrell, Gabe Kapler, Joaquin Benoit and Randy Choate).

[StearnsFTW]

Untouchables:

Ryan Braun

Yovani Gallardo

Casey McGehee

Zach Braddock

John Axford

 

Difficult to Depart With:

2B Rickie Weeks

 

Other than that I wouldn't mind seeing others traded, but Yo looks like he's developing into that ace we've been waiting for. If Braun and/or Gallardo are traded I'll become a Nationals fan (STRASBURG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...and Harper).

 

But I'd like to see these guys traded:

Prince~at least 3 top prospects, maybe a bullpen arm also

Corey~I like a deal where we package him and Prince to TB for Desmond Jennings, Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Moore, Alex Torres, and Tim Beckham

Wolf~If some contending team is interested we should dump his contract and pick up some kids

Hoffman~Maybe he'll just retire, but we wouldn't get much from him anyways

Edmonds~Not getting much in return

Gomez (if TB trade goes through)~sub .300 OBP is crappy!

 

I'd like to see these trades go down:

 

TB gets: Prince and Corey

MIL gets: OF Desmond Jennings, SP Jeremy Hellickson, SP Matt Moore, SP Alex Torres

 

LAA get: Wolf

MIL gets: SP Trevor Reckling

 

This completely restocks our upper level pitching.

 

I know that neither of these is probably going to happen, but I'd be estatic.

Yeah, that'd be pretty good. It would also cost everyone in the Rays' front office their jobs. If we could get Hellickson and one other "B" prospect I'd be on it quickly. Nooooo way you get that kind of talent back.

 

I really like the original one where you have Beckham in there too................lordy.

[paul253]

TB is quickly falling out of contention. They only need to stay in the top 2 in their division as it looks like the AL East will get the wildcard. I'd love to see them take on both Fielder and Hart. They have a very young, deep rotation and they also have a lot of good pitching prospects. They could flip both Hart and Prince at the end of the year if they wanted to to get some of their prospects back. Or they could keep Hart, though he'll be expensive, and let him walk after 2011 to get the draft picks. I just hope Melvin makes the deals. We finally see a glimmer of hope and then the Crew goes off and looses 2 out of 3 at home to Houston. The team is not a contender Doug. Get that in your head. And unless you significantly upgrade the pitching with guys who are young and cheap, you won't ever be a consistent contender.

 

Back a few years ago Milwaukee had the top ranked farm system in all of baseball. Guys like Weeks, Fielder, Hardy, Hart, and Gallardo made that possible. Well all of the position players have come and are about to get to the point where they can go and what do we have to show for it? One playoff appearance made only because of Sabathia. 2 seasons over .500. It's not working. And it's not working because there is no pitching. It's nice to see them finally recognize that out slugging everyone doesn't work, but unless they actually do something about it recognizing it means nothing. It's getting so frustrating watching this team but it's even more frustrating watching Doug Melvin and Mark A. act like we are still contenders and are one or two aging veterans away from making the playoffs. We are in the unique position of having enough of a young core signed (Braun, Gallardo, Escobar, Lucroy, Braddock, Axford, McGehee) plus decent prospects close (Gamel, Cain, Lawrie, Gindl) available to replace people who are traded, that we can trade two of our better players (Hart and Fielder) and not have to go into a full fledged rebuilding process. It's like the fans are the only ones who see it though. Corey Hart's trade value will probably never be as high as it is right this second, but they'd rather take the chance that he continues to hit like he has for the past two months instead of the way he's hit for the 3 years prior. Maybe he has turned the corner, but when you have zero pitching are can probably get a good pitching prospect or two for him now, is that really a chance they should take? Not to mention they'll have to sign him to a huge contract after next season if the intend to keep him. Prince too. He's not coming back. His value is only going to decrease now as every day is one less game he'll play for his new team. He should be actively shopping both players now and should jump on the first good offer. The fans will understand.

[yoyomayoma]

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/09/brewers-put-fielder-hart-weeks-on-table/

The fire sale is on!

[Invader3K]

Haudricourt: Trio on market.

 

For those talking about possibly re-signing Hart, this tidbit is interesting:

 

As much as we've talked about the difficulty of dealing with

Fielder's agent, Prince Fielder, the Brewers never have gotten far with

Hart's agent, Jeff Berry, either. The sides have butted heads on Hart's

worth for years, leading to the first arbitration in the Doug Melvin

regime last winter.

Judging Weeks' value is difficult as well because of his

injury-filled past but he has been healthy this year and is having his

best season.

[chuckyboy]

The sale is on, but no one thus far appears interested. I would think Weeks would be the most appealing because of his obp, power and speed.

I hope the brewers don't insist on major league ready prospects, get the best prospects period. I believe Law had their minor leagues ranked 25 or 26, how the mighty have fallen. This team needs so much help that these short term fix solutions have all backfired. Drafting 'major league' ready Arnett and FA's Wolf, Davis, Hoffman, Hawkins, Zaun, etc.

[craigharmann]

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/09/brewers-put-fielder-hart-weeks-on-table/

The fire sale is on!

Awesome!! Let's do it!!! Weeks for Bumgarner, Hart and Hoffman for Minor and Kawakami, and Fielder for about 3 top notch prospects, and we're in the game!