One major league source told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that a lot of lefty relievers were blocked by teams and never got through waivers in August. The price tag on most of them was steep so most teams bit the bullet and decided to go with what they had. The Giants were one of those clubs as GM Brian Sabean opted to stick with Javy Lopez and Jeremy Affeldt. Here are some other highlights from Cafardo's column..
- The Mariners re-upped GM Jack Zduriencik this week and Cafardo wonders if Seattle will be in the mix with Prince Fielder this offseason, even though they already have Justin Smoak at first. It's hard to predict how much the M's will be willing to spend and it's possible that the four-year, $36MM deal given to Chone Figgins in December 2009 could make ownership gun-shy.
- The Twins didn’t seem to have anything major working for Joe Nathan at the deadline, but they asked him to waive his trade-veto rights just in case and Nathan declined. Nathan's future with the club is uncertain as he heads into free agency but he has a shot at staying if he accepts a hometown discount. It's unlikely that the Twins will pick up his $12MM option this winter. The club can buy him out for just $2MM.
- Cafardo writes that Brewers rightfielder Corey Hart would fit nicely with the Red Sox. However, it seems likely that they'll lose Fielder this summer so they probably won't entertain a deal involving Hart.
- Twins GM Bill Smith says that Joe Mauer will be a catcher for the foreseeable future, but he continues to leave the door open for a possible shift of positions down the road. There are also no plans for the Giants to move Buster Posey elsewhere, according to Sabean.
Isaac
Trade Mauer and get some prospects back for him
cubsfan97
I wouldnt want his contract!
Ben_Cherington
I would love to have his contract!
Andrew Rosner 2
Are you out of your mind??? Players like Mauer come along once or twice in a blue moon…
jwsox
Players like mauer? You mean high average high on base no power Injury prone catchers? Yep once in a blue moon
Spaldingballs
Consistent 6-7 WAR catchers who have 1 really bad injury? Yes, that is once in a blue moon
GaryLe
Jason Kendall. I’m not saying it’s a perfect comparison, but I’m just throwing it out there.
wickedkevin
Are you talking to your kid brother who is playing The Show?
Isaac
Maybe…but seriously why not? The twins aren’t going anywhere get som pitching for him
Isaac
Some whoopsie
fitz
Maybe you missed that gigantic contract he just signed and the fact that he is the ultimate hometown guy in baseball.
Isaac
Ya I did I’m 12 so I looked past the whole contract without really thinking Bout it pity
Bonesaw McGraw
And then you linked us to the wrong Javy Lopez.
notsureifsrs
ruined your day i bet
Bonesaw McGraw
Yep. Hit the bottle pretty hard after this post.
David X
Yeah, another lefty reliever really would have propelled the Giants past the Diamondbacks …
notsureifsrs
i try to picture nick cafardo sitting down writing these articles of his every week and man does it make me want to punch him in the face
User 4245925809
That same feeling with majority of the globe writers.
Could you picture Shaughnessy, or worse… Charles Pirece getting a featured bit like this every week? All of a sudden Cafardo becomes a whole lot better and obvious choice as to why he has this featured bit on Sunday.
2HarborsTwinsFan20
Joe Mauer wont be catching regularly for the foreseeable future, just like Bill Smith wont be our GM in the near future
CommissionerBart
Bill Smith says Mauer will remain at catcher for now but he’ll “leave the door open for a position change down the road.”
Is that after Mauer becomes so badly injured and worn down from catching that his health compromises his value elsewhere on the field?
Move Mauer NOW. And while you’re at it, Bill, move on….doesn’t matter where….just move yourself on NOW.
Twins obviously aren’t interested in winning if they keep Smith around after the growing record of mistakes he has compiled.
AaronAngst
So, Cafardo doesn’t pay attention to the standings much, I assume. Why would the Brewers trade Hart away when he’s under contract affordably through 2013, and when their entire postseason bound team, sans Fielder obviously, will be back next year? Wishful thinking? Pence was on a team that wasn’t going to be going anywhere in the next couple of years, so at least that had a chance of happening.
AaronAngst
So, Cafardo doesn’t pay attention to the standings much, I assume. Why would the Brewers trade Hart away when he’s under contract affordably through 2013, and when their entire postseason bound team, sans Fielder obviously, will be back next year? Wishful thinking? Pence was on a team that wasn’t going to be going anywhere in the next couple of years, so at least that had a chance of happening.