Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Major League Baseball's non-waiver trade
deadline is less than two weeks away, and we are already starting to hear the
rumors. Actually we have been hearing the rumors for a while now, but as we
get closer to 3 p.m. (EDT) on July 31, they start to take on a little more
credibility.
The name you keep hearing most prominently is Chicago Cubs right-hander Ryan
Dempster. In fact, some reports have stated that the Cubs would like to ship
him out by this weekend.
Dempster, who is scheduled to pitch Friday in St. Louis, has been terrific for
Chicago this season, going 5-3 with a major league best 1.86 ERA for the
hapless Cubs. His stock may not be any higher than it is right now, as he has
won his last five starts and hasn't allowed a run in his past 33 innings.
So, there are plenty of suitors, perhaps as many as 10 teams who have called
Theo Epstein. But, Dempster will be allowed to pick and choose where he
finishes his season since he has his 10-5 rights.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the team you keep hearing the loudest with regards
to Dempster and with Chad Billingsley currently sidelined with some arm pain,
it makes sense.
Boston is also interested in the righty, but I will go on record right now in
saying that would be a huge mistake on both sides. Dempster has spent his
entire 15-year career in the National League. A move to the American League
would be a disaster.
The reason Dempster has become so attractive is because the biggest chip
potentially on the market, Philadelphia lefty Cole Hamels, appears to be
staying put.
At least for the moment.
The Phillies are 9 1/2 games out of a playoff spot as we head into action on
Wednesday. If we learned anything from the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay
Rays last year, it's that anything can happen. And with Chase Utley, Ryan
Howard and Roy Halladay all back from the disabled list, general manager Ruben
Amaro may not be so crazy in thinking his team still has a shot.
Realistically, though, the Phils are 11 games back in the loss column of
Pittsburgh and Atlanta for the two wild card spots. That's not so much of a
problem as the number of teams that the Phils would have to jump to get there.
There are also reports that the Phillies are going to make a last ditch effort
to sign Hamels long-term before the trade deadline. How that goes could also
go a long way in deciding Amaro's mind.
I've always maintained the move there should be to re-sign Hamels and deal
Cliff Lee this offseason for a bat.
Heck, I'd even consider shipping Lee out now. See if Texas is interested
again. The Rangers could use another starter and by all accounts Lee enjoyed
his time there before. And lo and behold they have exactly what the Phillies
are looking for; a young third baseman who can hit for power in minor leaguer
Mike Olt.
One player the Phillies could potentially move no matter what is outfielder
Shane Victorino, who like Hamels, will also be a free agent at the end of the
year.
Pittsburgh, the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves could all use some
outfield help, but they will likely check in first with the Arizona
Diamondbacks, who for some reason are shopping 24-year-old outfielder Justin
Upton.
Why Arizona is willing to give up on Upton so fast is beyond me. Sure, he's
having a bad year and is grumbling a bit, but he was an MVP candidate last
year and is under contract for the next three seasons at reasonable money.
Upton makes a ton of sense for the Pirates, who have Andrew McCutchen and
that's about it offensively. That could be as dynamic a duo as there is in the
league if they are paired together.
With Brett Gardner out for the year the Yanks could also make a play for
Upton. A move for Upton may seem drastic for a team that is already 22 games
over .500, but keep in mind Nick Swisher is a free agent at season's end and
the team has a $13 million club option on Curtis Granderson for 2013.
A move for Upton makes just as much sense for the Yankees long-term as it does
in the short-term. Plus it would allow the Yanks to use Raul Ibanez and Andruw
Jones strictly in a DH role.
The talk leading up to the deadline is what makes the MLB trade deadline so
exciting. Rarely does it live up to anything, though, and now with the extra
playoff spot, teams are less willing to sell so early.
The Sports Network