Last updated: 12:28 pm
July 14, 2008
Posted: 3:07 am
July 14, 2008
THE starting pitching market did not end with the trading of CC Sabathia to the Brewers and Rich Harden to the Cubs.
Plenty of starters are being discussed, and two of the more interesting sellers heading toward the July 31 trade deadline are the AL West duo of Oakland and Texas.
MORE: Joel Sherman's Hardball Blog
Ostensibly both teams are still contenders in 2008. Heck, Oakland has a better record than the Yanks and the Rangers are close behind. Yet privately A's officials do not consider the team a strong contender and, therefore, are willing to deal Joe Blanton even after moving Harden during the season and Dan Haren in the offseason.
Blanton is just 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA. But he remains a workhorse, is just 27 and is not a free agent until after the 2010 season. In a marketplace crowded with pitchers such as San Diego's Greg Maddux and Randy Wolf, and the Indians' Paul Byrd, Blanton's youth, durability and controllable years become more attractive.
The Rangers are still prioritizing winning this year. Millwood came off the disabled list on Saturday. Texas is expecting Vicente Padilla and Eric Hurley to return from the DL shortly after the All-Star break, and Brandon McCarthy not longer after that. The Rangers are curious if a relatively healthy pitching staff could boost them into serious playoff contention.
On the other hand, the Rangers might see this as the best chance to get something for Millwood, who has two years at $23 million left beyond this year, and Padilla, who has $13.75 million guaranteed beyond this year.
The scouting section swelled (at least 10 teams were represented) to see the Mets' Double-A ace Jon Niese throw seven shutout innings against the Yanks' Double-A Trenton team on Saturday. Niese is 5-7 with a 3.09 ERA, and beyond Fernando Martinez probably would be the most in-demand Met in trade requests.
The Mets, however, only have Johan Santana, John Maine and Mike Pelfrey under control next year among their starting pitchers. If they were to deal Niese, they would be removing their only close-to-the-majors starting prospect. . . .
The losing pitcher in that Binghamton-Trenton game was Brian Bruney, who continues to work back after suffering a torn Lisfranc ligament in his right foot early in the season. A scout who was in attendance said Bruney was 93-95 mph and had good arm strength, but showed his rust in a second inning of work.
