Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that Ken Griffey Jr. will always get "the respect and dignity he deserves" in Seattle, so don't expect the Mariners to push Junior out of the way now that it seems convenient to do so. As one executive tells Stark, that's not an easy thing to tell a player like Griffey. Here are the rest of Stark's hot stove-related notes from Seattle and around the major leagues:
- Zduriencik says talk that the Mariners are trying to deal for a bat is "overblown" though he concedes that he's always "making phone calls" to other clubs.
- The Mariners will "wait and see what happens" with Cliff Lee, Zduriencik says. Lee becomes a free agent after the season and expects to get paid like an ace.
- The man who traded for Lee last summer, Ruben Amaro Jr., says the Phillies aren't as well-equipped to make a blockbuster move in 2010. "To be frank, I don't know if we have the resources to trade people to get that kind of guy," the GM said.
- Another GM believes one of Amaro's current players, Jayson Werth, may benefit from a relative shortage of right-handed power outfielders this offseason.
- A friend of Lance Berkman's thinks the first baseman would be prepared to accept a trade and leave Houston for a couple months. But the friend is less certain that Berkman would accept a deal if his new club was sure to exercise his 2011 option. At $15MM, there's no guarantee that will happen, in spite of Berkman's recent hot streak.
- Executives on other teams see Carlos Zambrano as a guy who "hasn't pitched like a top-of-the-rotation starter for two years."
bomberj11
I don’t think Berkman will have a problem leaving Houston…
DreinLA
J Mac, Scott Elbert, Jon Link, and Xavier Paul for Cliff Lee, how does that sound? Hell you can add anyone else from the minors not named Withrow, Lindblom, E. Martin, or Gordon. Then how about they dump GA and pick up Hank Blalock to come off the bench?
metsfan4475
save your breath… the Mets are gettin Cliff Lee. Jon Neise, Fernando Martinez, and Eddie Kunz for Cliff would be a definite, and Lee will realize that with the Mets lineup he will get plenty of run support and with the 1-2 pitching punch of Santana and Lee, he will realize that the Mets are good enough 4 the playoffs
R_y_a_n
Oh boy, I love theses posts!
jwsox
how about a dyan viecdio-carlos quentin-carlos torres for berkman deal…also adding anyone from the minors not named hudson, flowers, morell, danks, or mitchell…slot jones full time in right and rotate Dh between konerko and berkman…I know the stros dont need an out fielder but carlos would rake in the NL and it would allow them to dumb el cabio and save even more money
danks50
Wow, kinda steep don’t ya think?
jwsox
wait its the internet i cant tell are you being sarcastic? if its steep its probably only steep because of carlos right?. but if we were to trade for berkman we would have too may players, moving carlos is the smartest for the team, juan wont go anywhere, he is hitting now…stealing at a very very good clip and too expensive…rios wont go anywhere for same as juan….jones SHOULD not be moved for obvious reason…there is no point in swapping PK mainly because PK is hitting like a beast and if paired with berkman would get more fast balls to hit….thus leaving carlos…he is young, cheap, and when on it great hitter he makes the most sense to trade…
im probably making too much of it and being very very biased but i would love to see berkman in the middle of our line up
jwsox
heck even include Daniel hudson and freddy garcia plus some money and snag roy oswalt too
Chris
If the Cubs could dump salary this year/off-season I could see them going after Lee. Maybe Fukudome could be dealt. I could also see Gorzelanny, Shark, Lee and Zambrano getting dealt. Also Lillys contract is expiring and Cubs have Cashner, Jay Jackson in the minors.
Lee
Dempster
Lilly
Wells
Cashner/Jackson
C- Soto
1B- Lee
2B- Theriot
3B- Ramirez
SS- Castro
LF- Soriano
CF- Byrd
RF- Colvin
User 4245925809
Not sure understand that Berkman part correctly.. the friend of his is not sure he will leave if his 2011 option *IS* picked up? the way he has played so far, age considered and his fielding deterioration all combined, one would think he would insist the option be picked up.
Has he been around Ed Wade that long??
danks50
$15 million steeps steep for a guy that will be 35 next season. A restructured contract for something like two years and a option could make sense though.
WayOuttaHere
Cliff Lee to San Diego!