On the Block
The non-waiver trade deadline passed Thursday at 4 p.m. EDT. Here's a rundown of some players who may be trading places before the day ends.
OF
J.D.
DREW
2003 Stats
AVG
HR
RBI
.293
11
29
Let's make a deal: More than six teams are interested in Drew, including the Yankees, who are reportedly offering pitchers Brandon Claussen and Jeff Weaver for Drew and Brett Tomko. However, the Cardinals may not be interested in such a deal. There was talk of a three-way trade that would send Drew to Florida and Pittsburgh's Jeff Suppan to the Cardinals, but that apparently has fallen through. There were also rumors of Drew involved in deals with Boston, Oakland, Seattle and Toronto. Any of these deals would involve starting pitching, which the Cardinals desperately need.
In the end:
Tony La Russa tried to quell some of the trade rumors by saying Wednesday, "I want him here." Plus, Jim Edmonds' injury woes may make it difficult for the Cardinals to deal Drew. Any team getting Drew, however, would have a relatively young center fielder who still has plenty of offensive upside.
SP
Kelvim
ESCOBAR
2003 Stats
W-L
ERA
SV
6-6
4.35
4
Let's make a deal:
The Red Sox are in the market for another starting pitcher, but the Jays' asking price for Escobar -- SP Casey Fossum and left-handed prospect Jorge de la Rosa -- seems to be too pricey for Theo Epstein. Pittsburgh's Jeff Suppan (10-7, 3.57 ERA) is another possibility; the Sox already have ex-Pirates pitcher Scott Sauerbeck on staff from an earlier trade.
Let's make a deal:
The same teams targeting Javier Vazquez could also go for the rejuvenated Hernandez, who likely wouldn't require as big a trade package.
In the end:
Hernandez makes $3.825 million this year, not a major burden for most contenders. However, if he pitches 217 innings (he's third in the NL with 153 IP), an option would kick in for 2004 that would pay him $6 million. That makes him expendable in the Expos' eyes and not as attractive to contenders.
OF
Brian
GILES
2003 Stats
AVG
HR
RBI
.306
12
59
Let's make a deal:
Talks are still brewing about a potential trade with the Padres that would send Giles and Jason Kendall to San Diego for a package of young rising stars that could include Jake Peavy, Oliver Perez, Sean Burroughs and Xavier Nady. Giles would give the Padres some star power as they move to a new stadium next year. The Yankees are also hot on Giles' trail, especially after trading Raul Mondesi on Tuesday, and could offer promising lefty Brandon Claussen. The Phillies were also interested in Giles but balked at a deal that would've involved promising youngsters Marlon Byrd, Brett Myers and Gavin Floyd.
In the end:
If Giles gets dealt at the deadline, it will likely be to the Yankees, who are looking for help now. The Padres may still be interested in Giles (and Kendall), but that the trade may not happen until after the season.
C
Jason
KENDALL
2003 Stats
AVG
HR
RBI
.304
4
38
Let's make a deal:
Any team interested in Giles would likely have to take on Kendall and his $42 million contract as well.
In the end:
Robert Dvorchak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette -- The Pirates are on the hook for $42 million to Kendall after this season, and there have been talks about him deferring some of the money. The Padres, however, say a deferral would not help them. For the deal to work, the Padres want the Pirates to assume as much as $24 million of Kendall's remaining contract.
SP
Sidney
PONSON
2003 Stats
W-L
ERA
14-6
3.77
Let's make a deal:
Orioles honchos Mike Flanagan, Jim Beattie and Ed Kenney would like to a) sign Ponson or b) trade him. Simple enough -- but neither has happened. Baltimore makes no bones that it will take one or two top prospects to pry Ponson away.
In the end:
Baltimore Sun's Joe Christensen says the market for Ponson appears to be hinging on the destiny of another starting pitcher -- the Pittsburgh Pirates' Jeff Suppan. Atlanta and Houston have both expressed interest in Ponson, but both sound like they're targeting Suppan first.
SS
Alex
RODRIGUEZ
2003 Stats
AVG
HR
RBI
SB
.295
24
65
10
Let's make a deal:
Mired in last place -- again -- A-Rod says he would be open to a change of address "if the Rangers found they could be better off without me." Realistically, Texas isn't looking to move Rodriguez, who is in the third year of a 10-year, $252 million contract.
In the end:
Rodriguez will be in the Rangers' starting lineup tonight against Boston. After all, he's been there the past 432 games. At 28, he will be part of Texas' ongoing youth movement, perhaps becoming the grizzled veteran much sooner than even he envisioned when he left Seattle after the 2000 season.
SP
Javier
VAZQUEZ
2003 Stats
W-L
ERA
8-7
3.77
Let's make a deal:
The Braves and Astros have inquired about Vazquez, who would provide a huge boost to each team's starting rotations. Both teams could offer a package of young players and prospects to get him.
In the end: Vazquez will be a free agent at the end of the 2004 season, and it appears the team won't be able to afford him then. However, it appears the Expos would have to be overwhelmed by a trade to ship their best pitcher away. The same can be said about any deal for Vladimir Guerrero.
Photo Credits: All images AP except Kendall (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images).
