Clearing The Stink Out
Every winter there are a ton of bad rumors that float around like stink balls. This year is no different and since there seems to be a ton coming out with the Pirates names tagged on them, I thought I’d try to clear the air of the stink.
"Pirates are interested in Trot Nixon"
Wasn’t this a headline from the 2005 winter meetings? I swear it was. David Littlefield has zero interest in Trot Nixon. Not even for a fallback. None. Zilch. This is a stinko..
And if he signs anyone like Nixon over the winter, the fans need to go off.
"Jose Castillo is being shopped"
Riigghhhttt. He is first-year arbitration eligible and had a second-half .216 BA so somebody now believes he is dealable at his low point. The problem is, even Littlefield knows you don’t trade away potentially flashy middle infielders who projects out to a .250 EqA just because he hasn’t had his head in the game for the last year to year and one-half.
He’s a young man who was brought up way too fast in the organization, projects to get a little better every year, and is more valuable as a utility player than anything Littlefield could get for him on the trade market. So why would he trade him? He won’t – he’ll send him back out there in 2007 and hope he has a breakout year. This is a stinko..
"Pirates might have an interest in Geoff Jenkins"
Good Lord. Whoever dreamed this one up was really trying to stretch it out. Sure, the Pirates have an interest in any decent left hand bat, but that doesn’t mean that Melvin is stupid enough to deal him to a division foe. Can you name the last time the Brewers dealt anyone within the division other than minor league or junk players? This is a stinko..
"Pirates are interested in Barry Bonds"
Even today this rumor swirls after the Pirates came out and said he wasn’t an option they were considering. Unfortunately for Barry, he very well might be indicted next year so whoever picks him up risks losing him. Another stinko..
"Maholm to the Rockies for Brad Hawpe in a deal with the Cubs Jones involved"
This one popped out of nowhere late last night and funny, it wasn’t even on the floor so I suppose ESPN either has great moles or good dreamers. On the surface it seems logical until you consider that the Rockies are getting a raw deal, the Cubs get Jennings as a steal, and the Pirates end up with a yet another poor defending RF who can’t hit the side of the barn after the break each year, is a career .244 hitter against NLCD teams with just 5 HR’s in 196 AB’s (one HR every 39 AB’s – doesn’t include the Pirates), and the Pirates give up an 8-game winner last year who could have been a 12-game winner if he ever received run support. This is a stinko..
Anything can happen as we have learned living with David Littlefield in command, but these are stinkos and, other than the Jenkins deal, I will be surprised if any of these deals become reality unless they are done late in the off season and Littlefield is looking to save face by doing something just to do something.
— Tidbits —
Kotchman update — I was informed yesterday that Casey is back getting some AB’s in winter ball now. That’s great news for Casey and the Angels. His numbers aren’t impressive yet but I’m sure he’ll come around with that sweet swing he has.
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