UPDATE, 12-3-07 at 4:53pm: MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan mentioned this rumor to Rangers GM Jon Daniels. Daniels told him not to write it. Sounds like there’s nothing to the idea of Blalock to St. Louis, but the Dodgers rumor is picking up steam.
FROM 12-3-07 at 4:30pm:
Here’s a good one from Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Grant admits this is dangerous, unsubstantiated rumormongering. Is there any other kind? The buzz is Hank Blalock to the Cardinals for Scott Rolen and Chris Duncan. Interesting, though we know the Cards are very reluctant to trade Duncan.
Both Blalock and Rolen carry injury risk, so maybe that cancels out. But Blalock only has $12MM left on his deal while Rolen has $36MM and a no-trade clause. Even if you consider Blalock for Rolen an even swap, Duncan probably isn’t worth the $24MM salary difference.